A suspect accused of helping carry out a terrifying home invasion at a wealthy real estate executive’s mansion in Toronto was reportedly allowed to leave a hospital after being treated for a gunshot wound, only for police to later identify him as one of three armed men wanted in the violent attack.
Toronto police have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for Daijohn Richards, 23, who investigators believe was accidentally shot by one of his own accomplices during the October 29 break-in at the home of David Morton, CEO of the real estate firm MAC Group.
The violent robbery unfolded around 3:40 a.m. in Toronto’s exclusive Bridle Path neighborhood, an affluent enclave known for its multimillion-dollar mansions and celebrity residents.
According to investigators, three masked men armed with firearms and a hammer forced their way into Morton’s home on Hyde Park Circle. The intruders reportedly made their way to the second floor, demanded valuables and confronted the family, setting off a violent struggle.
Morton, 75, and his two adult daughters, ages 26 and 28, were shot during the confrontation. His wife, Doriana Zohil-Morton, 64, was struck with a hammer, as was Morton. All four family members were rushed to the hospital, with police later revealing that two suffered life-altering injuries.
The suspects escaped in a dark-colored SUV before officers arrived, leaving the injured family behind.
But investigators soon uncovered an unexpected development. Roughly 30 minutes after the attack, Richards allegedly arrived at a Toronto hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to his right shoulder.
Police believe one of his accomplices accidentally shot him during the chaos inside the mansion.
Officers encountered Richards at the hospital, but he was discharged Friday afternoon before investigators had gathered enough evidence to arrest him in connection with the home invasion.
By the time detectives established what they believe was his involvement, Richards was gone.
The revelation has raised questions about why police did not detain him sooner. Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw defended the department’s handling of the investigation Monday, explaining that officers could not legally arrest someone based on suspicion alone.
Investigators said they needed sufficient evidence connecting Richards to the attack before taking him into custody, and that evidence was not established until after his hospital release.
Police subsequently released his photograph and warned that he may still be showing signs of his shoulder injury.
Richards is wanted on 14 criminal charges, including four counts of discharging a firearm with intent to wound, four counts of robbery with a firearm and three counts of aggravated assault. He also faces charges related to breaking into a residence, possessing a prohibited device and wearing a disguise with intent to commit a crime.
Meanwhile, Morton has spoken publicly about the ordeal, describing the attack as a terrifying violation of his family’s safety.
“It is difficult to put into words the trauma of experiencing something so horrific in the one place where everyone should feel safest: their own home,” he said in a statement.
The executive said his family was concentrating on recovering from their injuries while expressing concern about violent home invasions across Toronto.
“No family should ever have to experience this,” Morton added. “People should be able to sleep peacefully in their homes without fear of armed individuals breaking in and threatening their lives.”
Police believe the suspects may have chosen the house because of its location in one of Toronto’s wealthiest neighborhoods rather than because of a personal connection to the family. The precise motive remains under investigation.
Authorities are still searching for Richards and the two unidentified accomplices. All three are considered armed and dangerous.
The defendants have not been convicted of any crime, and the allegations remain subject to the criminal justice process.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Toronto Police Hold Up Squad at 416-808-7350 or 33 Division at 416-808-3300.
