In a cruel and unfathomable turn, we have lost our beautiful Ramone Thomas, whose bright future was ended far too soon. The 26-year-old Toronto man was killed in a shooting on Sunday, January 25, 2026, in the city’s Old East Village neighbourhood.
A citizen called 911 just before 4 a.m. after hearing multiple gunshots on Dundas Street, between Lyle and Hewitt Streets. Responding officers found two adult male victims on the roadway in the 700-block of Dundas Street, near the Palace Theatre.
Both men were rushed to hospital. Ramone Thomas later died of his injuries. The second man, who has not been publicly identified by police, sustained serious but non-life-threatening wounds and remains hospitalized.
The London Police Service Major Crime Section took over the investigation and made a swift arrest. On January 30, they identified and charged 26-year-old London resident Matthew Yousufy in connection with the shooting. Yousufy faces 13 charges, including second-degree murder and aggravated assault.
The list of charges extends beyond the violent act. Yousufy is also charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, and multiple firearms offences. Additionally, he faces charges for possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and multiple counts of failing to comply with release orders.
The incident has shaken the Old East Village community, marking London’s second homicide in just two weeks in the same area. Following the shooting, a nearby apartment building was evacuated for several hours as police, including tactical officers, conducted their investigation. Local business leaders have expressed that residents and shop owners are feeling more unsafe than ever.
Matthew Yousufy remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in London court on February 5, 2026. The London Police Service continues to investigate and is asking anyone with information, particularly dash-cam or surveillance footage from between 3:30 a.m. and 4:15 a.m. on January 25, to come forward.