Editor’s note: Judicial authorization to identify two underaged suspects who were previously named in this story has expired. Their names have been removed.
Toronto police say a 16-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of eight-year-old JahVai Roy, who was struck by a stray bullet while lying in bed in North York last month.
The arrest was announced during a news conference at Toronto police headquarters on Wednesday morning.
Roy was found suffering from a gunshot wound inside his apartment on Martha Eaton Way, near Trethewey Drive, at around 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 16. He was taken to hospital for treatment but later died.
“He was at home when a group of people brazenly fired guns outside his apartment building. A stray bullet struck him while he was in bed. In bed in his own room, the place that should have been the safest,” Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said Wednesday.
Roy’s mother previously told CTV News that she was lying beside her son in bed when he was fatally struck.
“In the hours after this unimaginable crime, I spoke with JahVai’s mother. I told her that we would do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice. And over the past weeks, our officers have done just that,” Demkiw said.
“Every necessary resource was used to find the individuals alleged to be responsible for taking the life of JahVai Roy. No stone was left unturned and our officers diligently followed up with every bit of information they received.”
On Friday, Sept. 5, investigators said a 16-year-old suspect, who cannot be named, was arrested in connection with the homicide.
The suspect, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and five firearm-related offences. A loaded firearm was recovered during the arrest, police said.
Two suspects remain outstanding in connection with the homicide, police added.
Canada-wide warrants have been issued for the arrest of a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old who was 17 at the time of the shooting.
While the identity of suspects under the age of 18 are typically protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), Demkiw said investigators received judicial authorization to identify them given the seriousness of the allegations.
That authorization has since expired.
“I encourage both these individuals to turn yourselves into police immediately,” Demkiw said.
“To be clear, someone knows where they are. A word of caution, if you know where they are and are found to be harbouring them or aiding them in any way, we will investigate and lay charges as appropriate.”
‘A senseless, cowardly act’
Det.-Sgt. Jason Davis, of the homicide unit, said he believes the two suspects are still in the Toronto area.
“The world is now looking for you,” he said.
“It is time to turn yourself in.”
When asked why all three suspects face first-degree murder charges, Davis said police believe the shooting was a “planned and pre-meditated act,” even though “the victim may not have been the intended target.”
“What happened on Aug. 16 was a senseless, cowardly act that extinguished the life of a little boy,” Davis said.
“Those that were responsible will be held accountable.”
JahVai’s family speaks out in wake of arrest
On Wednesday afternoon, JahVai’s mother, Holly Roy, shared her thoughts on the arrest of a now 16-year-old boy in connection with her son’s murder, as well as the identification of two outstanding suspects whom police have also identified as youths.
“I want to start by saying how much I miss my son,” she said while fighting back tears.
“I want to say thank you to the Toronto Police Service and everybody that was involved in finding those accountable. For community, I really want to say I’m thankful.”
Roy said she knows in her heart and spirit that those responsible for JahVai’s death will be found and urged them to come forward, adding that she’s also thankful for all the “love and the support that everybody has given me and my family through this, this unnatural process, everyone who has donated to my family.”
As for the outstanding suspects, she urged them to turn themselves in, offering the following words:
“You’ll never find peace. You will never find peace. And I hope that you turn yourself in and you make things right, but that is not mine to carry anymore… Do your last bit of doing something right and good.”
Roy added that while she’s disheartened to learn that the suspects are youths, she’s not surprised given the recklessness of their actions.
“I’m so thankful for all the services and that they’re going to be held accountable,” JahVai’s mom said.
Police have said that the teen who was arrested was carrying a loaded firearm that was modified and had automatic capability, which Roy called “scary.”
“We have to do better as a city, as a community, parents, anybody who has lost somebody to gun violence, we really need to do our part,” she said.
“And there needs to be a call to action. Nobody’s immune, nobody, to gun violence. And I think everybody needs to step up.”
While various representatives from all levels of government made calls for improvement to the justice and bail systems, Roy said she’s still waiting to see “tangible steps.”
She did acknowledge the work that has been by Toronto police, but said otherwise it’s “crickets,” even from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who she said promised to assist her in relocating to a new home.
“My family is so displaced and… (we) can’t even begin to heal from this. My building hasn’t even fixed the window on my apartment. I think there’s just a lack of empathy, or like the city is desensitized,” said Roy, who hasn’t stayed in her apartment since the tragedy.
“I knew there was no way I could come back here. There’s no way I could live with that memory and I’ve asked that they help us relocate, in a sense, and it’s been pretty quiet.”
In an email to CP24, Shirven Rezvany, of the Mayor’s Office, said city staff have been working to assist Roy and her family in finding a new place to stay, following Chow’s offer to help.
“The City has found three-bedroom apartments for the family, and while the family reviews them, city staff continues to look for more apartments,” he wrote, adding that the Mayor “expects the landlord to the fix the window quickly and be responsive to the Roy family’s needs.”
“(Chow) believes we need to provide young people support and another path so they never pick up a gun. Mayor Chow has invested an extra $5 million into community programs this year that focus on youth violence prevention, mentorship and recreation. The Mayor will continue to invest in youth violence prevention, and she and the City will work with communities on programs that meet their needs.”
JahVai’s brother, Diondre Roy, also spoke about the need for improvements to the justice system.
“I think there needs to be a bail reform or some change and, I don’t know, there’s a lot going on my mind right now, but there definitely needs to be a battle for him,” he said, calling JahVai his “keeper,” an “angel,” and a “beautiful, beautiful soul.”
Diondre has since tattooed the name of his late brother on his arm.
Family spokesperson and friend, Marcell Wilson, agreed that Canada’s criminal justice system has significant gaps, especially when it comes to youth, and needs to be changed “dramatically.”
“I’m just thankful that they’ve caught and identified suspects, thankful for the general public and the outpour of support that we’ve seen on our end for the family. Thank you to the donors,” he said.
“I was there when the (police) chief sat down and looked in the eyes of the family and made a promise (to catch those responsible), and I want to thank him directly for keeping that promise, and to the detectives for the work that they put in.”
Wilson said it’s now up to the community to work together and “put in the work that we need to do.”
“They did their job as far as identifying and catching the suspects. Now we need the courts to do their job and punish them to the full extent of the law,” he said.
As for Roy, she said her youngest son is now with the ancestors and her role now is to honour his memory, and try to be strong and move forward is the pursuit of justice, through changes in laws and resources.
Local councillor holding town hall with police chief on Sept. 15
Speaking with CP24 outside the apartment building where the shooting occurred, local Coun. Frances Nunziata said she’s happy that police have made an arrest in the case.
“It’s the best news. I was hoping that there would be an arrest,” she said, thanking those “working behind the scenes,” including the community, for all their hard work.
The York South-Weston representative said this arrest brings a sense of relief to those in the neighbourhood community, although not entirely as two suspects are still outstanding.
This is the second shooting in less than a month in Nunziata’s ward. On Sept. 3, a woman in her 30s as well as a 17-year-old boy were injured in a shootout between two groups of young people on Keele Street. Police have now made two arrests in that case.
“It’s just too much gun violence and it’s all with young youth and they’re out on bail the next day and then they have another incident, a shooting two or three days after they’re out on bail,” she said, adding people are angry, don’t feel safe, and are fed up.
“We have to stop this gun violence, get the guns off the streets.”
Nunziata said all three levels of government must work together to address this issue, notably through bail reform.
On Monday from 7 to 9 p.m, Nunaziata will host her annual town hall at St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church Hall, 1789 Lawrence Ave. W. Chief Demkiw will be in attendance to discuss gun violence, among other things, she noted.
“I think (it) will be an opportunity for the community to hear what the police services is doing and maybe show support, how we can work together in partnership,” Nunziata said.
Police say they’ve seen a ‘dramatic rise’ in youth arrests for illegal guns
Demkiw, meanwhile, said Toronto police have seen a “dramatic rise” in the number of young people being arrested with illegal firearms, a trend he called “incredibly concerning.”
“We’ve been raising the alarm for the last couple of years around the rise of violence amongst young people and if you take a look at our statistics, what the data tells us, we’ve had 13 young people charged in murder investigations this year in our city. That is very alarming,” he said.
“I think it really speaks to the need for all levels of government and everybody who provides services that impact families and young people to work together to do everything we can to prevent and intervene in advance of these senseless act of violence that are hurting our communities and in this case, took the life of an eight-year-old child.”
