The suspect in a fatal shooting in East End Toronto last summer has been nabbed in Charlottetown one week after he emerged as Canada’s most wanted fugitive.
According to a news release, 35-year-old Michael Bebee was arrested without incident by Charlottetown police at a business on Belvedere Avenue recently.
Bebee was wanted on a country-wide warrant in connection with the shooting to death of Shamar Powell-Flowers near Danforth and Carlaw avenues in the early hours of July 23, 2023.
His arrest happened exactly one week after he was named as the most wanted fugitive on an updated list released by the BOLO (Be on the Lookout) program.
In a news release, Charlottetown Police Services (CPS) said Toronto police investigators contacted them late last week asking for help with tips they’d gotten indicating that Bebee may have been in Prince Edward Island.
They said detectives from Toronto would be travelling to P.E.I. to move Bebee to Ontario in “the coming days.”
“This arrest proves that collaboration between police services, media, the public, Crime Stoppers and organizations like BOLO makes our communities safer and stronger,”
In a press release, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said: “I want to thank Charlottetown Police Services for apprehending the suspect, BOLO and Crime Stoppers for working together to make our communities safer. We truly hope this arrest provides some comfort to the family and loved ones of Shamar Powell-Flowers.”
Police said Bebee is facing a charge of second-degree murder and appeared in court on May 1 in Charlottetown.
In a statement made available by Toronto police, the mother of Powell-Flowers stated that it was difficult to describe the “flood of emotions” she felt when she got a call from Det. Sgt. Trevor Grieve informing her of the arrest in the case.
Charmaine Flowers said: “An immense weight had been lifted.
“I have so much gratitude. I am grateful to the Bolo Program for taking on our case, to the investigative team from the Toronto Police Homicide Unit for their tireless efforts toward justice and the respect and dignity they have shown our family since our paths crossed in the most unfortunate way, and to the members of the media who amplified this campaign.”
In the release, Toronto police said Bebee was apprehended after a tip from the public, but it remains unclear whether a reward of up to $100,000 that was previously offered by the BOLO program will be pad.
In her statement, Flowers thanked the person who informed the police they needed to arrest Bebee. She thanked the informant for allowing her and her family to “take our next steps forward through this awful journey.”
She said: “Please know that if my beautiful Shamar were alive and the tables were turned, he would not have hesitated to help your family in any way he could.”