5 things you need to know this morning: Sept. 12, 2025

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. Man, 22, arrested in connection with Kirk murder, FBI find bullets inscribed with: 'Hey, fascist! Catch!'

A 22-year-old man named Tyler Robinson has been arrested in connection with the murder of US political activist Charlie Kirk. The governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, said the FBI had retrieved bullet casings associated with Robinson containing the words: "Hey, fascist! Catch!" Cox also condemned "the cancer of social media" during his press conference.

FBI Director Kash Patel holds news conference on Charlie Kirk suspect https://t.co/3tPJzBc3z0

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 12, 2025

2. LeBlanc says construction could begin within 4 years on 'very exciting' Quebec City–Toronto high-speed line

The Alto high-speed rail line won official endorsement from the Carney government on Thursday, and now Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has said he expects construction to begin within four years. Speaking in Montreal, he said the "very exciting project" – which would link Quebec City to Toronto – "represents a significant, significant undertaking." He added: "Imagine the assessments, imagine the Indigenous consultations along a 1,000-kilometre route."

The federal government wants construction on a planned high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City to begin within four years. https://t.co/Is8YvRGu9g

— CityNews Toronto (@CityNewsTO) September 12, 2025

3. Fraser promises justice reform in 'very near future' as Poilievre highlights crime

Amid increasing pressure from Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre on the issue of crime, Justice Minister Sean Fraser said on Thursday the Liberal government will be introducing several justice bills in the "very near future." Fraser mentioned racism and intimidation of faith institutions as priorities for the new legislation.

My plan for the Fall, addressing:

✅ Bail Reform & stronger sentencing
✅ Hate Crimes
✅ Intimate Partner Violence & keeping kids safe pic.twitter.com/qhjDHMHEdE

— Sean Fraser (@SeanFraserMP) September 11, 2025

4. Father hunts down driver who hit his 13-year-old son, says police were too slow

In related news, a father from the Greater Toronto Area has said he was forced to take matters into his own hands after his 13-year-old son was struck by a car while walking to school. Syed Saeed said he tracked down the the driver himself because the police were too slow to react. Peel Regional Police explained that it was experiencing a "higher-than-usual" number of calls at the time.

#NEW: Mississauga father says he tracked down driver who left scene after hitting his 13-year-old son near schoolhttps://t.co/wmtC8SBGUf pic.twitter.com/5xhy757Nlo

— CTV News Toronto (@CTVToronto) September 12, 2025

5. Canadian senior speaks of 'shock and horror' after being falsely accused of link to Kirk murder

A Canadian senior has spoken of his "shock and horror" after he was falsely accused of being linked to the murder of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday. Michael Mallinson, 77, was named by some social media accounts as the man arrested in the immediate aftermath of Kirk's murder, leading to the feverish spread of misinformation accusing him of being a Utah resident – despite the fact he'd never once set foot in the Beehive State.

'I feel violated': How a Toronto retiree was falsely accused of being the Charlie Kirk shooter#torontomorninghttps://t.co/io8UsqnUiF

— Toronto Morning (@toronto_morning) September 12, 2025