Third 16-year-old charged with murder of teen in the Beaches

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A third 16-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder after a 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed last month in Toronto’s east end. 

Toronto police said paramedics responded to reports of a stabbing shortly after 10 p.m. on July 5 in the area of Eastern Avenue and Woodward Avenue. The victim, identified by police and his family as 14-year-old Abdoul Aziz Sarr, was found near a fast-food restaurant and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Two 16-year-old boys separately turned themselves in to police in July and have been charged with first-degree murder in the case. 

Police said a third 16-year-old boy turned himself in on Friday and now faces the same charge. 

A community centre in Toronto’s east end has called the fatal stabbing of Sarr a “senseless act,” saying his death left an “immense void” in the community. 

“Abdoul Aziz was much more than just a teenager from our community,” the TAIBU Community Health Centre said in a news release last month, noting the teen participated in its youth programs for several years. 

“He stood out for his commitment, kindness, and respect for others. On the very morning of his passing, he had taken part in one of our community activities,” the centre said. 

That activity was focused on several themes, including violence prevention and promoting well-being among Black and racialized youth, the statement said. 

“This tragic loss feels as a collective failure. It urgently raises profound questions about the safety of our youth, the violence in our neighbourhoods, and the resources available to provide them with tangible, safe, and empowering alternatives,” it said. 

“It painfully reminds us that despite the efforts of many community organizations, the systems meant to protect our children too often fall short.”