Toronto Police Service
www.tps.ca
———————–
News Release
Toronto Police Service joins Bolo Program in announcing $1 million in rewards, new incentive program for Top 25 Most Wanted Fugitives campaign
Broadcast time: 10:30 AM
Date: Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024
Unit: Crime Stoppers Toronto, Office of the Chief
Case #: n/a
A $100,000 reward is being offered by the Bolo Program, in cooperation with Toronto Crime Stoppers, for information leading to the arrest of Michael Bebee, who was named Canada’s most wanted fugitive on Tuesday for his alleged role in the murder of Toronto man Shamar Powell-Flowers nine months ago. The reward was part of $1 million in rewards announced by the Bolo Program as it updated its list of Canada’s Top 25 most wanted fugitives.
Fifth on the list is Cristian Cuxum, wanted for the murder of Edwin Alvarado in Toronto in October 2022. The reward for a tip leading to the arrest of Cuxum is also $100,000.
A statements from the family of Shamar Powell-Flowers can be found at the end of this news release.
Other Toronto suspects on the updated Top 25 list revealed Tuesday include:
Kamar Cunningham, who, while released on bail and after being convicted of several firearms trafficking charges, did not appear for his sentencing hearing in 2020 (reward up to $50,000)
Mohamed Abdullahi, wanted for the July 2023 murder of Mohamed Ahmed
Kiarash Parzham, wanted for the 2022 murder of Kian Hoseyni
Jabreel Elmi, wanted for the 2021 murder of Thane Murray
The Bolo Program was launched in May 2018 by the Stephan Cretier Foundation as a way to amplify priority wanted notices issued by Canadian police services.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.
—–
Statement from the Family of Shamar Powell-Flowers:
Shamar loved.
He loved food, which he’d eat for three people. He loved his siblings (four brothers, one sister) and the nieces and nephews they gave him. He loved his mom, whom he cared for; his Arsenal Football Club, which he lived for; his dear dog Rocco, who, nine months into this unthinkable nightmare, continues to grieve (Did you know dogs grieve? We didn’t but do now.). Shamar loved his friends, family, neighbours, strangers. He loved helping, giving, celebrating, serving. He loved working, learning, trying, achieving.
Shamar was a remarkable light. He was a brave, loyal, ambitious, highly intelligent, and hardworking construction engineer, a generous and kind man with a smile that lit up the universe. Shamar loved living, and we loved Shamar, as did so many others who lived and worked alongside him, who learned from him, were helped by him, enriched by him, lifted up by him, inspired by him. He was a guardian angel and guiding star who was always trying to save others. How cruel it is that this loving and beloved man, our Shamar, could not be saved himself, and was left to die alone.
For nine months, we have been crippled not only by grief, but by the realization that there are people out there who could help us, but who instead have chosen to remain silent. People who could step up as our amazing Shamar would have stepped up for them had the tables been turned, had someone not chosen to carry a gun and fire a shot that left a hole in his heart and our hearts and the hearts of so many others.
To those who know the location of Michael Bebee: Shamar would have given you the benefit of the doubt, so we are trying the same. Maybe you’ve been scared. Maybe you didn’t realize our extraordinary pain. Maybe you thought this arrest wouldn’t matter. But here we are, nine months later, locked in place, drowning in despair, and pleading for someone to release us from this agony and allow us to take the next step forward in this most awful journey.
If you know something, if you see something, if you hear something or even suspect something, please, pick up the phone, call in the tip. Show us the good in this world that Shamar always saw, but we struggle to see now.
— The family of Shamar Powell-Flowers
Shamar’s family would like to thank the many friends and strangers who assisted them financially for Shamar’s funeral. They are also grateful to the Toronto Police Homicide Squad, especially Detective Sergeant Trevor Grieve, for their professionalism, compassion and dedication to this case, and the Bolo Program for providing the investigators with this valuable tool. Shamar’s family appreciates the media’s coverage of this important campaign and asks that you continue to use the attached photo of Shamar.
Stephanie Sayer for
Images for this release are available on our website.
—————————————————————————
https://www.tps.ca/