'ALWAYS HAPPY': Family of 12-year-old slain boy release statement
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An innocent 12-year-old boy who was killed when he was caught in a hail of bullets while walking with his mother last weekend is described by his family as having an “immense” heart.
The aunt of the boy — identified by a GoFundMe campaign as Dante — released a statement to CTV Friday night during a vigil for the murdered child in the Jane-Finch community.
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“He loved sharing his food with others. He was a very happy boy. He was extremely friendly,” the family said in the statement, adding Dante loved being in Canada and loved speaking English.
“He was always happy, and everyone around him could feel his happiness. He will be truly missed.”
Dante and his mom were returning from shopping Nov. 7 around 2 p.m. when he was stuck by bullets in a reckless daylight shooting — described by police as possibly gang related — near Jane St. and Stong Ct., north of Finch Ave. W.
The boy was rushed to hospital in critical condition and died a few days later.
The GoFundMe, launched by Margarita Segura, whose husband is a close friend with Dante’s father, described the child as “the sweetest boy.”
“(He) would play would play for hours with our children who are younger than him. He was a beautiful soul and our hearts are broken,” wrote Segura on the fundraiser description.
“We want to support the family during this difficult time. Money raised will help his funeral expenses.”
As of Saturday morning, more than $12,000 had been raised — half of the $20,000 goal.
Police arrested two suspects — Rashawn Chambers, 24, of Toronto, and Jahwayne Smart, 25, of no fixed address — in a high-risk takedown outside the Canadian Tire near Bay and Dundas Sts. last Monday.
They face a number of charges, including first-degree murder.
Investigators are still on the hunt for a third suspect believed to have driven the suspects to the area.
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A man, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Toronto Sun Friday before the vigil he saw the aftermath of Saturday’s shooting.
He said an undercover police officer showed up at the scene first and ran to the boy’s aid as his hysterical mom and another woman held each other while a crowd of passersby gathered around the boy.
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“He was pumping, pumping, pumping him,” said the man, adding he believed the boy was clipped by gunfire in the neck and in the side. “The blood was just coming out of him.”
— With files by Jack Boland
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