It is apparent that pride and rage led to the needless death of an innocent bystander, Justice David McCombs read in his judgment.
It has shocked the conscience of the community.
McCombs invoked a rarely used reason to deny bail to Awet Zekarias, 23 the need to uphold public confidence in the legal system.
As he read out the judgment, O'Keefe's friends and family discreetly reached for each other's hands and wept.
That the homicide took place on the busiest street in Toronto near one of its busiest intersections on a Saturday night was an important factor in his decision, McCombs said.
O'Keefe, a 42-year-old father, had been out with friends at a Yonge St. bar and was walking to the subway when he passed the Brass Rail strip club. At that moment, Zekarias and 22-year-old Edward Paredes were being ejected by a bouncer.
Witnesses at the bail hearing said an enraged Zekarias urged his friend to use his gun which eventually, he allegedly did.
The bullet missed its intended target and struck O'Keefe in the head, killing him instantly.
Both men were charged with first-degree murder. Paredes remains in custody and has not sought bail.
O'Keefe's one-time girlfriend, Rebecca Gadsden, sat ashen-faced during yesterday's proceedings until McCombs made his ruling.
There was a while there when (the judge) was talking about how upstanding (Zekarias's) family is, that he was such a quiet kid, had no criminal record ... It was gut-wrenching, she said.
I'm relieved.
Gadsden said the victim was always a lovely guy and we shared this wonderful past together ... and I don't know how to describe it it's (his death) is unbelievable.
Jennifer Allen, a lifelong friend, said she and others plan to attend and make victim statements April 7 when city council debates a motion to ban handguns in Canada.
Defence lawyer Howard Goldkind told reporters he believed the 2005 slaying of 15-year-old shopper Jane Creba, another innocent victim of Yonge St. gunplay, was a factor in yesterday's decision.
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
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