Toronto police arrested two 18-year-old men on Thursday in connection with a fatal shooting at Woodbine Mall [1].
The arrests mark a significant development in a homicide investigation that began in the Rexdale neighborhood earlier this year. The case has drawn attention due to the violent nature of the crime occurring within a public shopping center.
The suspects have been identified as Dyson Taylor of Brantford and Xzavier Blake of Toronto [1]. Both men are 18 years old [2]. According to authorities, the pair are alleged to have been involved in the shooting that occurred on Feb. 6, 2026 [4].
The victim, 37-year-old Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar, died following the incident [3]. Some reports spell the victim's name as Chandan Jumar Raja Nandakumar [1].
Legal proceedings have already begun for one of the suspects. Xzavier Blake faces a charge of first-degree murder [4]. Police said they have not yet released the specific charges facing Taylor, though he was arrested as part of the same investigation [1].
The shooting took place at the Woodbine Mall, a prominent retail hub in the Rexdale area of Toronto [2]. Investigators have spent several months gathering evidence to identify the suspects involved in the February attack [5].
Police said the arrests are the result of an ongoing investigation into the homicide [2].
“Two 18-year-old men were arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at Woodbine Mall.”
The arrest of two young adults for a first-degree murder charge suggests that investigators have successfully linked specific suspects to a high-profile public shooting. Because the incident occurred in a busy retail environment, the resolution of the case is a key metric for public safety perceptions in the Rexdale area.
