Fourth Shooting Caps Weekend Of Gun Violence

On a weekend that was supposed to be aimed at stopping gun violence on our streets, there was more of it than ever.

A fourth shooting in the wee hours of Monday morning followed a trio of firearm-related incidents on Saturday and Sunday. No one was killed, but several were injured including a 14-year-old boy, who may have been an innocent bystander.

“(He) got shot and it went through his arm and it went through his stomach as well, and it came out, so when I heard that, I was really sad,” said an acquaintance of the young victim.

The boy was attending a weekend picnic in the Jane St. and Eglinton Ave. area when a van drove by and opened fire.

“This guy, he’s like really innocent. He was so sweet to everybody around him.”

No arrests have been made yet in that case, and the boy is expected to fully recover.

The latest incident took place at about 3:30am when a man in his 30s was shot in the left leg, near the groin, near Runnymede Rd. and Annette St. in the city’s west end. The victim managed to make his own way to hospital. Police officers from 11 Division said he wasn’t being very cooperative in offering details about his attacker.

Investigators searched the area for possible weapons or clues.

Earlier in the weekend, on Saturday, two teens were shot in separate incidents. A 17-year-old was struck in the stomach while attending a house party near Lake Shore Blvd. and Islington Ave. in Etobicoke.

Police believe they have a good description of the suspect in that case.

Then on Sunday afternoon, a teen was shot numerous times in the shoulder near the Malvern intersection of Markham Rd. and Sheppard Ave.

The 16-year-old victim took himself to hospital, where he’s listed in stable condition. There’s no word on suspects or arrests yet in that case.

The Sunday shooting occurred as the Toronto Argonauts were holding their inaugural Father’s Day Stop the Violence Walk.

The two-kilometre walk was meant to underscore the important role fathers have in helping their children make the right choices in life.

Audette Sheppard, who helped form the group United Mothers Opposing Violence Everywhere (UMOVE) following the shooting death of her son, was one of those participating.

“Instead of being complacent and thinking, oh, another one got shot last night, we have to get up and do something to make them know that it’s not acceptable,” she said.

Argos coach Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons agreed, adding, “We all need to be involved. If we’re going to be successful, every person of our community has to understand that peace is the way.”

The Argos have been involved in the Stop The Violence campaign for months now, with the players visiting schools and speaking with troubled teens about the dangers of getting involved with the gun culture.

Anyone with information in the latest shootings should contact Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).