Man charged in stabbing death of Etobicoke mosque caretaker

Toronto police say they've made an arrest in the stabbing death of58-year-old Mohamed-Aslim Zafis, a volunteer caretaker ata mosque in Rexdale.

Guilherme Von Neutegem, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder, police announced Friday afternoon.

"There does not appear to be any motive and there does not appear to be any known relationship between the accused and the victim" at this time, but the investigation will be ongoing, saidInsp. Hank Idsingaat a press conference.

Zafis was stabbed last Saturdaywhile he was sitting outside the front doors ofthe International Muslim Organization (IMO) mosque at65 Rexdale Blvd, near Islington Avenue, police said at the time.

Zafis was working as a volunteer caretaker of the mosque and was controlling access into the building in order to comply with public health orders.

Idsingatold reporters thatVon Neutegem was arrested Friday morning after he was identified by investigators on Thursday.

He was charged with first-degree murderas detectives allege"the accused simply walked up to [Zafis] and stabbed him," while he was sitting on a chair outside of the mosque, noted Idsinga. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

'Too soon' to say if 2homicidesconnected, police say

Rampreet(Peter) Singh, 39, was also fatality stabbed on Sept. 7,five kilometres from where Zafis was slain days later,policesaid.

At a news conference Monday,Idsingasaid police could not "exclude that possibility" that Singh's killing is connected with theZafis case.

However, onFriday,Idsingasaid it's "too soon" to comment on a possible connection between the two homicides as the investigation is active.

"We will provide further information as soon as we can on that investigation. We continue to explore every possibility and we will go where the evidence takes us," he said. Until then, investigatorscannot label Von Neutegem as a suspect in Singh's murder, he added.

Tens of thousands viewed online funeral for Zafis

Toronto Police Supt.Ron Taverner said at the same newsconferencethatZafis's family was notified of the arrest earlier Fridayand are "obviously devastated" by his death.

"ButI can tell you the support they've had from the Muslim community is amazing," said Taverner,adding the family told himmore than 30,000 people viewed the online funeral Wednesday.

At the funeral, Zafis was remembered by friends and family asa "kind, gentle soul" who volunteered to hand food out to the hungry, even on the day he was killed.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in the parking lot close to where Zafis was stabbed to mourn the man who was working to ensure worshippers were safe from the threat of COVID-19.

Zafis was stationed at the front door to check that all who entered were wearingmasks and respected physical distancing rules.

Zafisspent years volunteering at a local food bank and recently held a drive-through barbecuefor children,Imam Ayman Tahertold CBC News on Wednesday.

Right before he was killed, Tahersays he spoke to Zafis about the deceased man'sefforts to prepare food for a local Syrian family who had just lost a child.