Teen Suspect Arrested in Toronto Poker Pro Murder Following Massive Gun Battle

Teen Suspect Arrested in Toronto Poker Pro Murder Following Massive Gun Battle

By Michael Harrison

November 20, 2024 at 07:05 PM

A 16-year-old suspect has been charged with second-degree homicide in the death of high-stakes online poker player Matthew Bergart, following a dramatic shootout at a Toronto recording studio.

Man holding iPhone

Man holding iPhone

The arrest came during a major police operation on Monday night that resulted in 23 arrests. The suspect, who cannot be named due to being a minor, was among those apprehended after what police described as a "Wild West" shootout.

Bergart, 30, was killed on April 25, 2024, during a targeted home invasion in Toronto's Etobicoke district. Three masked suspects broke into the house demanding valuables before fatally shooting Bergart multiple times. Police confirmed Bergart was not the intended target of the robbery.

The arrest occurred when plainclothes officers witnessed three men exit a stolen vehicle and open fire at a recording studio hosting a birthday party. The ensuing gunfight involved over 100 shots exchanged, with partygoers returning fire. Remarkably, no injuries were reported.

Police arrested eight individuals on multiple charges, including unauthorized possession of firearms. Staff Sgt. Joe Matthews expressed concern about the involvement of teenagers in serious armed crimes.

Bergart was known in the poker community as a fearless high-stakes online player who competed against world-class opponents. A GoFundMe page described him as a talented musician who "dared to dream and create with a unique genius in both his music and his work."

Det. Sgt. Brandon Price stated, "This is a situation where there was a bad decision to do a break and enter, and that was compounded and turned into a murder."

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