Five suspects facing charges following an investigation into an attempted armed robbery in Brampton are shown. (Peel Regional Police)

On April 6, a group of five individuals attempted to rob a jewelry store in Brampton. The suspects, armed with firearms and other weapons, tried to force their way inside the store located at McLaughlin Road and Wanless Drive. However, they were unsuccessful and fled the scene in a Dodge Durango without any license plates. Despite their initial escape, the police were able to identify one of the culprits and several associated addresses throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Multiple search warrants were then executed, leading to the arrest of all five suspects and the laying of 53 criminal charges. The police seized four firearms, a bulletproof vest, 370 lbs of cannabis, a Taser, a quantity of jewelry, and over $65,000 in cash. According to the police, three of the suspects were bound by weapons prohibitions due to previous convictions, while the other two were on judicial release orders for matters currently before the courts.

It’s worth noting that all five suspects were under release orders or weapons prohibitions when they were arrested by the police. Insp. Sean Brennan, in a press release, commended the central robbery team and tactical units for safely apprehending these violent culprits, who posed a serious threat to communities throughout the GTA. He also emphasized that the firearms and other evidence seized were significant and could have caused harm to innocent people.

On Friday, April 7, 2023, the following persons were arrested and charged with the following offences. They were all held for bail hearings at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

1. Kurt Downer, a 41-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with:

• Robbery with a Firearm
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm X 2
• Possession of Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized X 2
• Careless Storage of a Firearm X 2
• Possession of a Prohibited/Restricted Firearm with Ammunition X 2
• Possession of a Prohibited Device X 2
• Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order X 5

At the time of his arrest, Kurt Downer was bound by 5 weapons prohibition orders stemming from previous convictions for firearms and drug related offences.

1. Darnyl Campbell, a 30-year-old man of Mississauga has been charged with:

• Robbery with a Firearm
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm X 2
• Possession of a Loaded Prohibited/Restricted Firearm X 2
• Careless Storage of a Firearm X 2
• Fail to Comply with Release Order

At the time of his arrest, Darnyl Campbell was bound by a judicial release order stemming from previous charges of Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Break and Enter X 8 and Possession of Stolen Property.

1. Jamiel Smith, a 31-year-old man of Milton has been charged with:

• Robbery with a Firearm
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm X 2
• Possession of a Loaded Prohibited/Restricted Firearm X 2
• Careless Storage of a Firearm X 2
• Fail to Comply with Release Order

At the time of his arrest, Jamiel Smith was bound by a judicial release order stemming from previous firearms and weapons related offences.

1. Kudzai Nyembe Mafohla, a 26-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with:

• Robbery with a Firearm
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm X 2
• Possession of a Loaded Prohibited/Restricted Firearm X 2
• Careless Storage of a Firearm X 2
• Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order

At the time of his arrest, Kudzai Nyembe Mafohla was bound by a weapons prohibition order stemming from a previous criminal code conviction.

1. Keenan Watson, a 31-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with:

• Robbery with a Firearm
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm X 2
• Possession of a Loaded Prohibited/Restricted Firearm X 2
• Careless Storage of a Firearm X 2
• Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order X 2

At the time of his arrest, Keenan Watson was bound by 3 weapons prohibition orders stemming from previous convictions for firearms and drug related offences.

Overall, the successful arrest of these five individuals demonstrates the police’s commitment to protecting the public from violent criminals and ensuring that justice is served.

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This investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact investigators with the Central Robbery Bureau at (905)453-2121 ext. 3410. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.