Court documents reveal that the alleged attack on a jail official, sparking the police corruption and organized crime investigation called Project South, was orchestrated by individuals using fake identities on an encrypted messaging platform. Before the purported murder attempt, suspects supposedly utilized the Signal app to exchange personal information and photos of the target, a senior corrections officer at the Toronto South Detention Centre, whose identity is shielded by a publication ban. These details are outlined in a factum submitted by Crown prosecutors in Ontario Superior Court last month. The document, based on conversations found on confiscated cellphones, depicts how an alleged gun-for-hire network is suspected of orchestrating the planned attack.
The Project South probe kicked off in June 2025 following the interception of the alleged hit by York Regional Police when the suspect vehicle collided with a police car stationed near the home of the jail official.
Initially, nearly 30 individuals, including seven Toronto police officers and a retired constable, faced charges in Project South. One officer, now retired, recently pleaded guilty, while one civilian’s charge was dropped.
‘Need the hit squad’
On June 16, 2025, just days before the foiled murder attempt, Dequon Lemonious, allegedly known as “Danny Phantom” on Signal, allegedly asked Median Jackson, who purportedly went by “Lebron James,” to check an address to confirm the presence of a vehicle. Lemonious reportedly messaged Jackson a picture of the jail official’s address and vehicle, obtained from an unauthorized search of the Ministry of Transportation’s database believed to be conducted by a Toronto police officer.
“If the car there need the hit squad,” Lemonious messaged Jackson, as per the records. During the planning of the alleged attack on the jail official, the two individuals supposedly discussed other criminal activities. Lemonious was said to provide information to Jackson, who would then subcontract the tasks to others for monetary gain.
Others also offered the job
Police uncovered Signal messages from the cellphone of another individual accused of conspiring to murder the jail official, just two days before the planned attack was thwarted. Devonte Barker-Campbell, identified as “Dwayne Casey,” reportedly sent a message to a Signal user named “Thunder,” including a headshot of the jail official and details of his address and vehicle from the same MTO search. Thunder declined the job, following which Barker-Campbell offered it to someone named “Reality” on Signal.
“Bro, everything ready. The Same Play, we can run that today. My Hitters Ready. When can we do this?” Reality messaged Barker-Campbell two days before the thwarted attack. The two coordinated a team of “hitters” to visit the jail official’s residence over the next 36 hours.
Reality’s team faced challenges with their stolen vehicle, revealing a video to Barker-Campbell, believed to be the same blue Acura intercepted by police at the official’s home during the operation. Inside the vehicle were Almar Heath, two unidentified youths, a loaded handgun, masks, gloves, and Heath’s phone showing GPS directions to the officer’s home.
Heath, Jackson, Lemonious, Barker-Campbell, and the two youths are charged with conspiracy to murder the jail official. None of the allegations have been tested in court.
While investigating the murder plot, York police discovered that Toronto police Const. Timothy Barnhardt was allegedly responsible for the unlawful search of the jail official’s data on the MTO database. Barnhardt’s legal team stated their intention to defend him in court rather than engage with the media.
Suspect vehicle cased home
According to the factum, the blue Acura was first spotted near the corrections officer’s home two days before the operation. Upon the officer’s return home from work, a masked individual brandishing a gun confronted his grandfather, inquiring about a vehicle in the driveway. The suspects fled in the blue Acura, reappearing near the residence the following evening. Police under surveillance observed the car leading to the arrests the next day.
The factum also alleges a video of the blue Acura was found on Jackson’s phone, showing him and Lemonious coordinating a shooting at a restaurant. Due to issues with the vehicle, another car was used in the shooting, per the court filing.
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