Five people, including two teenagers, are facing serious charges after a London teen was kidnapped and a ransom video sent to his family.
The teen was driven from his home to a residence on Cartier Road by a 16-year-old and a 15-year-old around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Roughly an hour and a half later, a family member received a Snapchat video showing the boy being held at gunpoint. Those holding the teen demanded money in exchange for his safe return.
London police were called and found the vehicle alleged to have been used in the kidnapping around 11:50 p.m. A man and woman were arrested in the area of Highbury Avenue and Huron Street, police said. Forty minutes later, the teen was found in the east-end. He was not physically hurt.
As the investigation continued, a second man and two teens were arrested. A search on Wednesday afternoon of an undisclosed location connected with the case turned up a loaded firearm.
Mohammed Abu Ghal Youn, 22, Tomiko Veal, 19, Savannah Vauhkonen, 19, and two teenagers who can't be named because of their age are charged with kidnapping for ransom, pointing a firearm, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, possession of a restricted firearm without a licence, possession of a loaded regulated firearm, extortion, assault with a weapon, using a firearm in the commission of an offence, and forcible confinement.
Veal and one of the teens face an additional charge of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order.
Police are reassuring the public this was not a random incident as the victim and all of the accused are known to each other.
