Toronto police have charged one youth with first degree murder and are searching for two more teens following an investigation into the shooting death of an eight-year-old boy.
Toronto Police Services (TPS) Chief Myron Demkiw said a teenage boy has been charged with first degree murder in the case. The boy was 15 at the time, and has since turned 16, Demkiw said during a Sept. 10 news conference.
The teen, whose name cannot be released under the Youth Justice Criminal Act, is also facing five firearms charges.
The police have also obtained Canada-wide warrants for two other teens wanted in the case. Their names cannot be released due to their age at the time of the alleged crime.
Demkiw has advised the teens to turn themselves.
Det.-Sgt. Jason Davis told reporters police believe the shooting was planned and, even though Roy was not the intended target, he said the first degree charges remain.
Police have alleged that one of the suspects had a loaded firearm that was modified to fire automatically.
Demkiw previously said he was “heartbroken” by Roy’s death, calling on those responsible to turn themselves in.
“He was in bed, in bed in his own room, the place that should have been the safest,” Demkiw said.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said at the time that she shared in the “anger and pain” of the tragedy.
Chow also called for an end to gun violence, saying the “reckless and violent acts” of a few hurt communities and leave behind tragedy.
Demkiw said police have seen an increase in the number of teens involved in violent crime over the past two years.
“We’ve had 13 young people charged in murder investigations this year in our city. That’s very alarming,” he said during the news conference.
The police chief said 403 crime guns have been seized so far this year.
