Latest news with #JahvaiRoy
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Fed up with the gun violence': Toronto police continue to search for suspects in fatal shooting of 8-year-old boy in North York
Toronto police continue to search for those responsible for the fatal shooting of eight-year-old Jahvai Roy on Aug. 16 in North York. (child's photo Supplied) The search for the person or persons responsible for the death of an eight-boy-from North York continued on Sunday as an advocate along with the local councillor called for solutions to addressing gun violence in the city. Just before 12:30 a.m. Saturday, a shooter or shooters opened fire from an area at the edge of a residential property at 15 Martha Eaton Way, just off Trethewey Drive, unsuccessfully aiming at a target or targets near the building's playground. Instead, the bullets they fired hit the window of a unit, striking and killing a child who was fast asleep in bed next to his mom. Today, that play area is empty, as is the building's pool, along with the unit where the boy was shot by the stray bullet. Investigators have removed the crime scene tape, but a heavy police presence remains in the vicinity. The victim, identified by family and police on Saturday as eight-year-old Jahvai Roy, is Toronto's 26th murder victim of the year. Jahvai Roy Jahvai Roy is seen in these photos provided by the family. The 8-year-old boy was struck and killed by a stray bullet on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2025. (Supplied) 'For a boy to be shot in their home, right beside their mother, that's supposed to be the safest place that you can be, and it really speaks to what's happening within the city right now,' said Keith Sweeney, a member of the Zero Gun Violent Movement, noting that while fatal shootings are down in the city, the number of shootings are actually up. Speaking with CP24 on Sunday afternoon, Sweeney said the answer to eliminating gun violence in Toronto is to work collectively to 'attack the roots' of the problem and better support those who are already working to do so. 'We know that there's poverty happening. We know that there's old beefs. We know that there are people who don't like each other, and instead of addressing it, we're sort of just watching it, right,' he said. 'So with Zero Gun Violence (Movement), we're trying to attack those roots and actually get to the heart of what's going on so that we can make change in the city. My mentor Louis March, he'd always say: 'There's zero gun violence in Rosedale. I'd like to see zero gun violence in Rexdale'.' Sweeney said one of the ways groups and individuals are coming together is through an upcoming peace march, which will be held on Sept. 13 starting at Nathan Phillips Square. 'A lot of those community organizations will be coming together so that we can all really bring, bring the voice and make it loud, so that people can come and be a part and make something happen,' he said. 'There's an African saying: 'Many hands make the loads light,' right? So if we're all coming together to work together, then we can make zero gun violence an actual possibility in the city of Toronto.' Keith Sweeney, of Zero Gun Violence Movement Keith Sweeney is a member of the Zero Gun Violent Movement. Local Coun. Frances Nunziata, meanwhile, says the news of an innocent boy being killed is her ward makes her sick to her stomach, adding that gun violence in the city must be adressed. 'I'm shocked and disgusted with the gun violence that we have in the city. And yesterday, the young eight-year-old who was shot sleeping in his bed, it just makes me sick,' the York South-Weston rep told CP24 on Sunday afternoon. Nunziata would only say that police are still working to understand the circumstances of this shooting and who may have been targeted. She did say that she's aware that shots were fired from the sidewalk outside the residential building towards the playground area, near where the victim's apartment is located. 'The bullets went through the window and to see a young, eight-year-old shot while he was sleeping, I'm really fed up with the gun violence we have in our city. I'm just disgusted,' she said. Coun. Frances Nunziata Coun. Frances Nunziata represents the riding where eight-year-old Jahvai Roy was killed. Nunziata said she's spoken with city staff who have assisted the boy's family in temporarily relocating to a hotel while their unit gets repaired and so that they feel safe after experiencing such a tragedy in their home. 'This is very devastating for the family and my condolence goes out to the family and friends, and whatever we can do to assist we're there to assist them,' she said, adding Mayor Olivia Chow has also indicated to her that she wants to meet with the family. Nunziata said just months earlier she met with tenants and management of this exact building to discuss some Nunziata noted. Police were also on hand for that meeting, she said, adding that the chief would be attending an annual town hall meeting in her ward in October. 'When I heard about it yesterday morning, when I received a call from 12 Division, it just made me sick. There's too many innocent people being shot and this has to end, and that's why I'm very supportive of bail reform,' Nunziata said, adding that Jahvai's family has been 'very active' in the community, advocating for solutions to gun violence among other things. 'We're not sure who was targeted, if there was, if this was the targeted shooting, but I'm hoping that we can get the resolution very shortly.' Police investigate Jahvai Roy murder Police vehicles are seen outside an apartment building in North York where Jahvai Roy, 8, was shot on Aug. 16 and later died. The Ward 5 councillor said one of the keys to addressing youth gun violence is to support vulnerable residents in the community, especially those experiencing poverty and other inequities. 'But we need to do more, you know, and I think that the community has to understand too, is that we need to work together and not just speak up and be angry when we have a shooting in the city,' she said. 'We need to work together. We need to try to solve the problem, rather than get angry and asking us what we're doing, I think that we need to do it together.' Police tape outside 15 Martha Eaton Way Police tape is seen outside 15 Martha Eaton Way in North York, where an eight-yeer-old boy was fatally shot on Aug. 16 while sleeping. Yesterday, police made an appeal for witnesses. They say someone known who pulled the trigger, but so far so no one has come forward to say who. 'Please, please contact us. Every little bit matters. Whether you think that it's useful or not or whether you saw something, please let us know,' Det. Sgt. Jason Davis told reporters at the scene hours after the fatal shooting. Det. Sgt. Jason Davis Det. Sgt. Jason Davis speaks to reporters on Aug. 16 following the fatal shooting of an eight-year-old boy in North York. Chief Myron Demkiw, meanwhile, is calling for those who commit such crime to be 'held accountable at the highest level,' adding that shooting like this that results in death in a congregate setting should be a 'pathway to first-degree murder charges.' 'We would hope it would serve as a deterrent to those who pick up their firearms, to solve their grievances or whatever it is that motivates them. In any circumstance, your guns being shot in our public settings is unacceptable,' he said on Saturday. Toronto police say all available resources are being dedicated to finding those responsible for the Jahvai's death. Anyone with further information should contact the homicide unit at 416=808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously. With files from CTV News Toronto's Scott LIghtfoot
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Boy, 8, dies after being struck by stray bullet while in bed in North York: police
An eight-year-old boy has died after being struck by a stray bullet while he was in bed at home in a North York apartment building, police say. The family of the victim has identified him as Jahvai Roy. Roy was lying in bed with his mother when he was struck, said Marcell Wilson, a family friend and spokesperson for the family. "There are no words that can capture the pain of losing a child in such a horrific and senseless way," he said. "An innocent life has been taken, a family is shattered." Officers responded to reports of gunshots near Martha Eaton Way and Trethewey Drive at around 12:30 a.m., Toronto police said in a post on X. When they arrived, they found a male child who had been shot. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. "What's happened here is a cowardly, disgusting act of violence," said Det.-Sgt. Jason Davis with the Toronto Police Service. "Every resource available in the city is being allocated to this right now." Two other apartment units struck Two other apartment units were struck by gunfire, but there were no further victims, Davis said There are no suspects or vehicle descriptions at this time, he said. "We are working very hard to find those people responsible and hold them accountable," he said. A group of people were standing at a playground near the building at the time of the shooting, Davis said. He said police are looking to speak with people in that group, if they have not already done so. "Every little bit matters, whether you think that it's useful or not," he said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Toronto police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers. Mayor Olivia Chow said she shares "in the anger and pain of this loss" in a statement posted on X on Saturday. "Gun violence must end in our city," the statement reads. "The reckless and violent acts of a few hurt entire communities and leave tragedy in their wake." She said she has spoken to Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw about the shooting, and police will provide further updates as they become available. Demkiw said he is "heartbroken" by the shooting in a post on X. Police will "commit every resource we need and necessary" in their investigation, he told reporters on Sunday. Demkiw encouraged those responsible to contact a lawyer and turn themselves in. "We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of you, and we will bring you to justice," he said. Meanwhile, Wilson called for unity between all sectors — including families, schools, law enforcement and government — to combat gun violence. "When our children are not safe … in their own beds, we must acknowledge that we have failed them," he said. "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."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Boy, 8, dies after being struck by stray bullet while in bed in North York: police
An eight-year-old boy has died after being struck by a stray bullet while he was in bed at home in a North York apartment building, police say. The family of the victim has identified him as Jahvai Roy. Roy was lying in bed with his mother when he was struck, said Marcell Wilson, a family friend and spokesperson for the family. "There are no words that can capture the pain of losing a child in such a horrific and senseless way," he said. "An innocent life has been taken, a family is shattered." Officers responded to reports of gunshots near Martha Eaton Way and Trethewey Drive at around 12:30 a.m., Toronto police said in a post on X. When they arrived, they found a male child who had been shot. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. "What's happened here is a cowardly, disgusting act of violence," said Det.-Sgt. Jason Davis with the Toronto Police Service. "Every resource available in the city is being allocated to this right now." Two other apartment units struck Two other apartment units were struck by gunfire, but there were no further victims, Davis said There are no suspects or vehicle descriptions at this time, he said. "We are working very hard to find those people responsible and hold them accountable," he said. A group of people were standing at a playground near the building at the time of the shooting, Davis said. He said police are looking to speak with people in that group, if they have not already done so. "Every little bit matters, whether you think that it's useful or not," he said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Toronto police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers. Mayor Olivia Chow said she shares "in the anger and pain of this loss" in a statement posted on X on Saturday. "Gun violence must end in our city," the statement reads. "The reckless and violent acts of a few hurt entire communities and leave tragedy in their wake." She said she has spoken to Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw about the shooting, and police will provide further updates as they become available. Demkiw said he is "heartbroken" by the shooting in a post on X. Police will "commit every resource we need and necessary" in their investigation, he told reporters on Sunday. Demkiw encouraged those responsible to contact a lawyer and turn themselves in. "We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of you, and we will bring you to justice," he said. Meanwhile, Wilson called for unity between all sectors — including families, schools, law enforcement and government — to combat gun violence. "When our children are not safe … in their own beds, we must acknowledge that we have failed them," he said. "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." Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Boy, 8, dies after being struck by stray bullet while in bed in North York: police
An eight-year-old boy has died after being struck by a stray bullet while he was in bed at home in a North York apartment building, police say. The family of the victim have identified him as Jahvai Roy. Officers responded to reports of gunshots near Martha Eaton Way and Trethewey Drive at around 12:30 a.m., Toronto police said in a post on X. When they arrived, they found a male child who had been shot. "He was in his home, the safest place that you can be — with your family, in bed — when he was struck by a stray bullet," said Det.-Sgt. Jason Davis with the Toronto Police Service. The boy was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. "What's happened here is a cowardly, disgusting act of violence," Davis said. "Every resource available in the city is being allocated to this right now." Two other apartment units struck Two other apartment units were struck by gunfire, but there were no further victims, Davis said There are no suspects or vehicle descriptions at this time, he said. "We are working very hard to find those people responsible and hold them accountable," he said. A group of people were standing at a playground near the building at the time of the shooting, Davis said. He said police are looking to speak with people in that group, if they have not already done so. "Every little bit matters, whether you think that it's useful or not," he said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Toronto police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers. Mayor Olivia Chow said she shares "in the anger and pain of this loss" in a statement posted on X on Saturday. "Gun violence must end in our city," the statement reads. "The reckless and violent acts of a few hurt entire communities and leave tragedy in their wake." She said she has spoken to Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw about the shooting, and police will provide further updates as they become available. Demkiw said he is "heartbroken" by the shooting in a post on X. "No family should endure this," Demkiw said. "To those responsible, get lawyers and turn yourself in."
