Youth charged in shooting death of 8-year-old JahVai Roy, other suspects wanted

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) have arrested and charged a teenager in the shooting death of 8-year-old JahVai Roy, who was killed by a stray bullet while asleep in his North York apartment last month.

Roy was fatally struck in the early hours of Aug. 16, when gunfire erupted outside his family’s apartment near Martha Eaton Way and Trethewey Drive. A bullet pierced the window of their first-floor unit, hitting JahVai as he lay in bed beside his mother. He was rushed to the hospital under emergency conditions, but later pronounced dead.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw says a 16-year-old male, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, was charged with first-degree murder in JahVai’s death. He was taken into police custody on Sept. 5 and faces other criminal offences, including the possession of a firearm without holding a licence and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, among other similar firearm-related charges.

Two male suspects – a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old – remain outstanding on Canada-wide arrest warrants. Police had received judicial authority to identify them, but that order expired on September 12, and they can no longer be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

“What happened on Aug. 16 was a cowardly act of violence. The life of an 8-year-old boy was taken away senselessly,” said TPS Detective Sergeant Jason Davis.

“If you have any information that can help us find these suspects, please contact police.”

Rise in gun violence among young offenders ‘incredibly concerning’: Demkiw

In the days following the shooting, investigators released images of a white Acura believed to be connected to the case. Authorities have asked the public for help identifying and locating the vehicle, which was seen fleeing the scene before officers arrived.

The tragedy sparked widespread grief and calls for action across Toronto. A vigil held outside JahVai’s home drew hundreds of mourners, including Mayor Olivia Chow, who called for stricter measures to curb gun violence and the flow of illegal firearms into the city.

“We have been raising the alarm for the last couple of years around the rise of violence among young people,” said Demkiw. “Over the last two years, we have seen a dramatic rise in young persons being arrested with illegal firearms. That is incredibly concerning.”

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support the Roy family has raised just over $89,000 to date, helping with funeral costs, trauma counselling, and relocation efforts.

Editor’s note: This article was updated to remove the names of the two young offenders wanted in connection with this case. Police had received judicial authority to identify them, but that order expired on September 12, 2025, and they can no longer be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.