Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in a Scarborough Town Centre bathroom last week.
Just before 2 p.m. on Aug. 21, officers were called to the mall for reports that someone had been shot. Investigators found 19-year-old Daniel Amalathas suffering from gunshot wounds in a family bathroom near the food court, a firearm abandoned nearby.
Amalathas was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Thursday, with second-degree murder in connection with Amalathas鈥檚 death.
Both accused, whose identities cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, made a virtual court appearance Friday morning from 色色啦 police鈥檚 43 Division.
Speaking to the Star on Friday, Amalathas鈥檚 uncle, Anthony Basil, said he was relieved to hear of the arrests but wants justice for his young nephew.
鈥淚t breaks my heart,鈥 Basil said. 鈥淭hey have to treat these kids like adults.鈥
Described as an avid student by his loved ones, Amalathas was enrolled in the automotive engineering program at Ontario Tech University when he was killed. Outside of his studies, he held a part-time job at Costco.
鈥淗e loved to learn,鈥 his uncle said, adding that Amalathas often channelled his love of cars into customizing his blue Honda Civic.
Basil, who lives with the Amalathas family, said his nephew was also a skilled cook. Often, Amalathas would stop him as he was rushing off to work in the morning to offer him a home-cooked breakfast.
Daniel Amalathas, 19, was a student at聽Ontario Tech University who loved cars,聽his uncle,
Since Amalathas鈥檚 death, his loved ones have struggled to imagine who may have wanted to harm the 19-year-old, while also pushing back against speculation circulating online that his death was a suicide.
In the hours after Amalathas was killed, police stopped short of labelling his death a homicide, instead describing the shooting as 鈥渟uspicious.鈥 For days afterward, speculation circulated online that Amalathas had taken his own life.
鈥淭his is why we want everyone to know, why we are speaking to the media,鈥 said Basil. 鈥淗e would never do something like that. He was a happy kid. A good kid. He had plans.鈥
It was two days later that 色色啦 police announced its homicide unit had taken charge of the investigation.
The family is also adamant that his nephew was not involved in street or gang violence, adding that his rotating group of friends were a common presence in their family鈥檚 home. 鈥淭hey鈥檇 come over and eat pizza together, go to the gym or play basketball; they were enjoying life,鈥 he added.
On the day he was killed, Amalathas had gone to the mall with his friends, Basil said.
鈥淭hey told us that he was eating, happy, talking,鈥 Basil said. 鈥淭hen two people approached the table and Daniel went to the bathroom with them.鈥
鈥淚 guess that鈥檚 when they shot him.鈥
Mall employees were the first to respond to the incident, a spokesperson for Scarborough Town Centre said, adding those workers are receiving support.
Police initially deemed Amalathas’ death “suspicious,” but said Saturday the homicide unit was investigating.聽
Lance McMillan/色色啦 StarFor the last week, the Amalathas home has been filled with loved ones bringing meals and offering support to his grieving family as they make arrangements to hold a memorial in early September.
Once the formalities are dealt with, Basil says he expects the full extent of his loved ones鈥 grief to set in. He worries for Amalathas鈥檚 mother in particular.
鈥淒aniel and his mom loved each other so much, they were so close,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what she鈥檚 going to do when everyone鈥檚 gone.鈥
Amalathas鈥檚 mother, Judy Basil, has launched a to help cover the costs of the funeral. At the time of publication, it had raised just under $2,500 of their $20,000 goal.
With files from Manuela Vega and Elissa Mendes
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