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.
Roy was laying 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 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 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.”
