The stepmother of a 17-year-old who was gunned down at a pizza place on Weston Road early this morning described the teen as a “kind” and “loving” boy who had a close relationship with his grandmother.
At around 1:40 a.m. Sunday, police said gunmen walked into a Pizza Pizza in the area of Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue and starting shooting in the direction of 17-year-old Jarryl Hagley, who was eating with friends.
Det. Paul Worden told CP24 Sunday that the victim rushed to a back washroom to flee from his attackers but collapsed and lost consciousness.
First responders, who arrived to find friends tending to the victim in the washroom, attempted to resuscitate Hagley.
He was rushed to a local trauma centre, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Speaking to CP24 Sunday, Hagley’s stepmother Trisha Samuels said the teen was a "nice guy" who wouldn't hesitate to help someone in the neighbourhood carry home groceries.
"He was a kind guy, very loving. He hugs everybody," Samuels said.
"We are just looking for closure."
Hagley leaves behind three young brothers, Samuels added.
"It hurts them to know that their brother is not here right now," she said.
Two of the boys told CP24 that their favourite memories of their brother include a trip to Canada's Wonderland and playing video games with him at their home.
Hagley moved to Toronto eight or nine years ago from Grenada, according to one of his relatives.
Teen's death is 'unbelievable,' family friend says
A man who identified himself as a family friend told CP24 at the scene that Hagley may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"He is not a troublemaker," the man said.
"It is unbelievable to me to know that this really happened to him."
Worden said investigators believe the shooting was “targeted.”
“He was with three other people sitting at a table having something to eat and we believe a person was targeted at that table,” he said.
Police have not released suspect descriptions at this time.
“There was good surveillance video at the Pizza Pizza store. We cannot obtain it until tomorrow though. I do expect very good images of the incident and the suspects,” Worden said.
“We are looking for more than one (suspect). We are still not clear on how many.”
The motive for the shooting has not been determined.
“There has been good information coming in. The friends of the deceased have been very cooperative. The Pizza Pizza store employees have been very cooperative. We do have some theories. We are not ruling anything out but we do believe there was prior contact between the suspect and the deceased and his friends,” Worden continued.
“It wasn’t a chance encounter at that time of the morning.”
Police are asking anyone with information about Hagley’s whereabouts prior to the shooting to contact investigators at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
