An overnight shooting in North York has taken the life of an eight-year-old boy who was struck by a stray bullet while asleep in his bed, authorities say.
According to Toronto police, a shootout occurred just before 12:30 a.m. on Saturday outside of the child’s apartment building at 15 Martha Eaton Way, near Trethewey Drive.
Upon arrival, officers located the young boy with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital by paramedics, where he was later pronounced dead.
“What’s happened here is a cowardly, disgusting act of violence,” Det. Sgt. Jason Davis told reporters on Saturday morning. “Every resource available in the city is being allocated to this right now.”
“The saddest part of this is that this young boy was in bed at home when this happened,” Davis said. “He was in his home. The safest place that you can be …when he was struck by a stray bullet.”
Davis said two additional apartment units were also hit during the shootout. No other injuries were reported.
Police Chief Myron Demkiw called on any witnesses to come forward with any details or information before issuing a pointed message to those involved in the shooting.
“Make no mistake about it, every single hour that passes, your world will shrink. It will continue to shrink. I encourage you to contact a lawyer and turn yourself in. We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of you, and we will bring you to justice,” he said.
No description of the potential suspect(s) has been released.
Chief: Shootings in public settings ‘unacceptable’
Demkiw called his meeting with the family of the dead boy a “very difficult conversation.”
“I am a parent and raised two children in our city, and I cannot imagine the sense of loss that the mother and family are feeling now, and I expressed our condolences and I expressed our commitment to do everything we possibly can to pursue every available lead, every bit of evidence to hold those responsible accountable.”
Marcell Wilson spoke on behalf of the family, saying there are no words to describe the pain of losing a child in such a “horrific and senseless way.”
“An innocent life has been taken, a family is shattered, and our community is mourning,” said Wilson, the founder of the One by One Movement, an advocacy group aimed at fighting gun violence.
“This young boy should have had his whole life ahead of him. We owe it to him and we owe it to every child to do better.”
The family of the victim have identified him as Jahvai Roy.
Police say he is one of the youngest victims of gunfire in the city.
Demkiw reiterated his call for law reform, especially when it comes to shootings in public settings, saying those types of crimes need to be treated in a most significant and severe way.
“A shooting that results in a death that happens in a congregant setting needs to be a pathway to first-degree murder charges, so that people can be held accountable at the highest level, and we hope it would serve as a deterrent to those that pick up firearms to solve their grievances,” he said.
“Your guns being shot in our public settings are unacceptable.”
Demkiw went on to reassure Torontonians that all necessary resources are being utilized to track down the culprits.
“These events reverberate, not just in this community, but indeed across our great city, and we will be with our communities to stand shoulder to shoulder with them and do everything we can to ensure a sense of safety and security is returned so that this neighbourhood and other neighbourhoods can feel safe.”
Mayor denounces gun violence
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow addressed the boy’s family directly in a statement shared on Saturday.
“I share in the anger and pain of this loss,” Chow said. “My heart goes out to their family, loved ones and the entire community.”
“The gun violence must end in our city. The reckless and violent acts of a few hurt entire communities and leave tragedy in their wake,” she added.
Chow said she had spoken with Chief Demkiw about the shooting.
“Police are using all resources to find those who are responsible,” Chow explained. “An investigation is ongoing, and they will provide further updates as they become available.”
This is the second time in less than a year that gun violence has rocked the North York neighbourhood. Last September, 15-year-old Mario Giddings was fatally shot at a nearby plaza, just steps away from his apartment building.