How a gang of heartless girls as young as 13 brutally killed a man standing up for his friend

Three of eight teenage girls accused of stabbing a homeless man to death in Toronto more than a year ago have pleaded guilty in court, according to local reports. 

Ken Lee, 59, a Hong Kong national who was trying to find housing in Toronto, was allegedly beaten and stabbed by the gang of girls ranging in age from 13 to 16 in December 2022. 

It is believed Lee was attacked while defending a friend who the girls had been trying to steal a bottle of liquor from. 

Each of the girls were arrested and charged with second degree murder, with Detective Sergeant Terry Browne of the Toronto Police calling the incident 'shocking' and 'disturbing.' 

One of the girls, who was 13 at the time, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Monday according to CBC News. 

Ken Lee, 59, an immigrant from Hong Kong who was trying to find housing in Toronto, was beaten and stabbed by eight of girls ranging in age from 13 to 16

Two other girls previously pleaded guilty to some charges in the case - one to manslaughter and the other to assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon. 

Six of the girls are on trial for second-degree murder while two are facing the lesser charge of manslaughter.  

Police have alleged Lee, who was 59 and living in the city's shelter system, died after he was swarmed and stabbed by the group. Lee was pronounced dead upon arriving at a Toronto hospital shortly afterwards. 

When a vigil was held for Lee at the Toronto Homeless Memorial downtown, he was remembered by visitors as a quiet person and devoted friend. 

'Nobody was surprised that he would stick up for somebody like that,' Sanctuary Toronto spokesperson and pastor Johnson Hatlem said of Lee.

Browne said Lee started living in Toronto's shelter system in September.  

'He does have a very supportive family in the area so I wouldn't necessarily call him homeless. Maybe just recently on some hard luck,' he said.

The horrific stabbing occurred near where York Street, University Avenue and Front Street West meet at around 12:15 a.m. on Sunday. It's believed that the girls, who had met on social media earlier, were trying to steal the victim's alcohol when they attacked him

Roberto Sanchez, who often holds the door open at a nearby Tim Hortons, told CTV News 'He was friendly. He was generous. He was a kind-hearted person. Everyone has their issues. But all in all, I didn't see him as a threat to no one.'

'For those youths to do that to him - it's heart-wrenching. I can't believe it.'

One resident of the nearby Strathcona Hotel where Lee was staying told CTV News Toronto that the teenagers were drinking, and tried to steal Lee's friend's alcohol.

Lee was with a female friend in a plaza northwest of the intersection of University Avenue and York Street when he was attacked.

'They were sitting on a bench, sipping booze out of a mickey and having a cigarette,' said witness Ken Webber. 

'I saw the aftermath of the attack.' The teens were 'standing outside the Union Station stairwell there, arguing, screaming and yelling,' he added.

One police source told The Toronto Sun the girls were 'like wild animals'.

Pictured: The homeless shelter where the victim was staying before he was knifed. Police believe that all eight teenage girls are 'equally culpable' in the dreadful street murder

Browne said the victim started living in Toronto's shelter system in September. He said they haven't been able to reach certain family members and until they do they won't release his name

'They're all young offenders. They attacked this guy like a bunch of wild animals. He tried to fight them off and they just kept coming back,' the source said. 'He was just minding his own business, he wasn't bothering a soul.'

Browne said the crime even shocked the police. 

'I've been in policing for almost 35 years and you think you've seen it all,' he said. 'Anyone who isn't shocked with hearing something like this has clearly just thrown in the towel and just said that anything is possible in this world. 

'Eight young girls and most under the age of 16. If this isn't alarming and shocking to everyone, then we're all in trouble quite frankly.'

Browne said the same girls got into an altercation earlier in the night in the area. He declined to release more details - but confirmed that they had met on social media.