Jane-Finch neighbourhood grieves for innocent boy, 12, killed by stray bullets
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A mom of three says she feels the mother’s pain of loss after an innocent 12-year-old boy was shot and killed during a melee of gunfire Saturday.
Erlinda Colos, who is originally from Peru and lives near where the boy was killed just north of Jane-Finch, said she didn’t see or hear the shooting Saturday but she now knows about the tragic death.
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The 52-year-old stopped by on her way to work to visit the make-shift memorial to the murdered boy on Friday.
“I was thinking about my own children and my grandchildren,” said Colos. “And I think about the mom and the pain in her chest.”
Peering out from above her mask at the bouquet of flowers and a small stuffed bear wearing a Superman suit that were left beside a tree near where the boy was felled in broad daylight by stray bullets, she said some prayers, blessed herself and wiped tears from her eyes before walking off down Jane St.
Vashtee Dosaran, who lives in the building where the shooting took place, stopped by with her seven-year-old daughter to drop off flowers.
“The violence has to stop we have young kids growing up in the area,” said Dosaran. “Up until a few weeks ago we felt really safe, but not anymore.”
“Please stop the shootings, the violence needs to stop. For the future of the little ones please stop,” she implored, clutching her daughter close to her side.
“Everybody feels for the family. I hope and pray that God gives them the strength to get through this,” said Dosaran.
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A man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was at the shooting scene Saturday and saw the aftermath.
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.
“He was pumping, pumping, pumping him,” said the man. “The blood was just coming out of him.”
“I feel sorry for that guy (the officer). He asked for a T-shirt — I guess to stop the blood.
The man believes the 12-year-old boy was clipped by gunfire in the neck and in the side.
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Two suspects were arrested outside a Canadian Tire at Dundas St. W. and Bay St. on Monday — two days after the reckless shooting occurred in a highrise parking lot at 25 Stong Ct.
Rashawn Chambers, 24, and Jahwayne Smart, 25, face an assortment of charges that include first-degree murder.
A candlelight vigil was expected to be held for the slain boy at 7 p.m.
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