Toronto police announce the arrest of a 15-year-old boy, and they are searching for two 17-year-olds in the murder of 8-year-old JahVai Roy.
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 his 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.
Guns seized A gun and a quantity of ammunition seized as part of the investigation into the homicide of 8-year-old JahVai Roy are shown. (Toronto Police Service)
Two suspects remain outstanding in connection with the homicide, police added.
Canada-wide warrants have been issued for the arrest of Ibrahim Ibrahim, 17, and Amarii Lindner, who is now 18 but 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.
JahVai Roy homicide Ibrahim Ibrahim, 17, and Amarii Lindner, 18, are shown from left to right. The two suspects are wanted in connection with the homicide of 8-year-old JahVai Roy. Police have obtained a judicial authorization to identify the two suspects.
“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’
Homicide Det.-Sgt. Jason Davis said he believes the two suspects are still in the Toronto area.
“The world is now looking for you,” Davis 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.”
Demkiw 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.”