Toronto police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the fatal shooting of eight-year-old JahVai Roy, who was killed by a stray bullet while lying in his bed last month in North York.
The arrest was announced Wednesday during a press briefing at police headquarters. The teen, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), faces one count of first-degree murder along with five firearm-related charges.
On August 16, officers were called to an apartment complex on Martha Eaton Way, near Trethewey Drive, shortly after midnight. Inside, they found JahVai suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead.
Investigators say multiple gunshots were fired outside the building and one bullet penetrated the boy’s bedroom. “He was at home when a group of people brazenly fired guns outside his apartment building,” said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw. “In bed in his own room where he should have been the safest.”
Police confirmed two other suspects remain wanted. They are 17-year-old Ibrahim Ibrahim and 18-year-old Amarii Lindner, who was a minor at the time of the shooting. Although the YCJA normally restricts publication of underage suspects’ names, Demkiw said investigators obtained judicial authorization to release their identities due to the gravity of the case.
Ibrahim Ibrahim, 17, and Amarii Lindner, 18, are shown from left to right. Investigators obtained judicial authorization to release their identities due to the gravity of the case.
“I encourage both these individuals to turn yourselves in to police immediately,” Demkiw urged. He also warned the public that anyone found assisting or hiding the suspects could face charges.
The investigation into the shooting remains active as police continue efforts to locate the remaining suspects. Authorities have appealed to the public for information, stressing that cooperation is essential in bringing justice to JahVai’s family.
JahVai’s death has renewed concerns about gun violence in Toronto and the risks posed to innocent residents caught in the crossfire of street-level shootings.
