Jason Hay, Moka café killings suspect, arrested in 'high risk' highway takedown
York Regional Police arrested the prime suspect in the deadly Moka café shooting in a "high-risk" takedown on busy Highway 400 near Barrie, Ont., as motorists headed toward cottage country on Friday afternoon.
Police said the suspect and a woman who was with him were arrested in the northbound lanes of the highway, between Mapleview Drive and Essa Road, near Barrie around 2 p.m.
Const. Andy Pattenden said the "high risk" arrest involved heavily armed officers descending on the suspects from unmarked vehicles.
Mike Newton was driving in heavy northbound traffic with his wife when he noticed two unmarked SUV-type vehicles race past on the highway's shoulder with their flashers on but no sirens. Seconds later, two more vehicles raced by on the left side of the highway.
The vehicles then crashed into an SUV, pinning it on all sides, Newton said. Heavily armed officers in both tactical gear and plain clothing swarmed the vehicle, including one officer who appeared to be on the vehicle's hood.
"It was lightning fast," Newton said, noting the entire arrest took place in minutes, possibly seconds.
Moments later, with the suspect under control, Newton was waved along.
York Regional Police say the male suspect had a firearm when he was arrested. Nobody was injured, Pattenden said.
Suspect wanted on Canada-wide warrant
Police said Jason Hay, 27, of Mississauga, Ont., has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the June 24 shooting at the Moka café in Vaughan, north of Toronto.
Hay had been the subject of a Canada-wide arrest warrant, which police announced last week. Police had warned he was considered armed and dangerous.
Hay's mother, who said she believes her son wasn't involved in the shooting, pleaded for him to get a lawyer and turn himself in last week.
Tashari Bennett, 25, is charged with being an accessory after the fact and breaching recognizance.
Christopher de Simone, 24, a regular café patron, and Maria Voci, 47, who worked at the eatery, were killed when a gunman opened fire on the morning of June 24. Two others were seriously wounded, but survived.
Police said additional charges are possible in the case.
Hay and Bennett are set to appear in a Newmarket, Ont., court on Saturday.
