Two men charged with murdering Kitchener teen

KITCHENER - Two men have been charged with murdering a 19-year-old man in a shooting in Kitchener in December.

The men, 23 and 28, were arrested in Kitchener on Monday and charged with second-degree murder and possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, Waterloo Regional Police said.

The shooting happened before dawn on Dec. 15 in a residence on Windale Crescent in the area of Ottawa Street and Fischer-Hallman Road.

Through investigation, it was determined that there was a social gathering at the residence," police said in a news release on Monday. During the gathering an altercation broke out between a group of people and several shots were fired."

Yafiet Rezene, 19, of Kitchener was found dead in the residence.

Two other individuals suffered gunshot wounds as a result of the altercation," police said. Both received treatment at the hospital and have been released."

Police have not named the men who are charged.

In addition to the murder charge, the 23-year-old also faces two charges of aggravated assault. The 28-year-old is also charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited. They will appear in Kitchener court on Tuesday.

Police previously said they believed the shooting was targeted and that those involved knew each other.

Andrea King lives two doors down from the semi-detached house at 16 Windale Cres., where the shooting took place.

This morning when I was sleeping, like 3:30 (a.m.), I heard some gunshots - pop, pop, pop, pop, pop," she told a reporter the day of the shooting.

Then at 4 o'clock, I heard somebody say, Police, police!'"

She said she got up and saw two police officers outside 16 Windale Cres. with guns drawn.

The killing was the 20th shooting in Waterloo Region in 2019.

Anyone with information can call police at 519-570-9777 ext. 8191 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Gordon Paul is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on crime for the Record. Reach him via email: gpaul@therecord.com