Suspect in 'unprovoked attack' of senior in Toronto has charges upgraded to manslaughter

A Toronto man now faces manslaughter charges after allegedly fatally attacking an 89-year-old woman last week.

Ryan Cunneen, 37, was originally charged with aggravated assault and mischief over $5,000, but Toronto police initially said charges could be upgraded pending results of an autopsy.

Last Friday morning, the seemingly random death of a woman on King and Yonge streets shocked the city after the suspect allegedly pushed her to the ground without apparent motive. Acting Insp. Craig Young said that the woman sustained serious injuries to her face and head" and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a police press release, the accused allegedly threw a brick through the window of a business near Church Street and Front Street east shortly before the alleged attack.

The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested without incident," police said. He appeared before a court on Saturday morning on charges of aggravated assault and mischief.

The victim has not yet been publicly identified, as police said they were in the process of notifying next of kin.

Police say the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit are now investigating, making this the second homicide of 2023.

This is the latest in a series of violent, seemingly unprovoked assaults that have shaken the city in recent months, including the fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old woman at High Park station, and the swarming attack' of 59-year-old Ken Lee, allegedly led by a group of eight teen girls.

On Monday, Toronto police say a group of about 10 to 15 youths allegedly assaulted two uniformed TTC employees on a Scarborough bus in what the transit agency called a despicable swarming."

Cunneen is expected to make an appearance at College Park Courts on Tuesday morning.

With files from Ben Mussett, Rachel Mendleson and Isaac Phan Nay

Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa