‘Took away his life’: Heartbroken mother speaks after son’s fatal stabbing in Toronto

A heartbroken mother is speaking out after her 23-year-old son was fatally stabbed in North York late last month.

Toronto police responded to reports of a stabbing just before 10 p.m. on Sunday, September 24, near Yonge Street and Hendon Avenue, north of Finch subway station.

Police said a man was stabbed and lying on the road. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The victim was identified as 23-year-old Joyous Magdirila of Toronto. Days later, authorities arrested an unidentified youth in Magdirila’s death, charging the suspect with second-degree murder.

Police have provided no other details.

In an exclusive interview with OMNI Television, Joyous’ mother, Charita, described her son as a young man willing to do anything for his family.

“He would always say, ‘Ma, what do you need? Do you need water? Do you want me to cook food for you?’ Those words… I would hear those words every day,” Charita Magdirila said.

Police identified the homicide victim as Joyous Magdirila, 23, of Toronto. Photo: Toronto police.

The person in custody cannot be identified due to the province’s Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), which is intended to “protect the public by holding youth accountable, promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth back into society, and preventing crime.”

“Twenty-three years… taking care of him. In only minutes, they took the breath away from my son… they took away his life. That is why it’s really hard for me,” Charita Magdirila said.

Joyous’ family is preparing for his funeral later this month and is fundraising to help with the expenses.

Magdirila’s death was the 53rd homicide in Toronto in 2023.

With files from John Marchesan and Hayley McGoldrick of CityNews