After 2 men shot 'indiscriminately' in Jane-Finch, leaders pledge support for at-risk youth

Police, communityand city leaders pledged on Wednesday to tackle gun violence and increase support for young people in Toronto's Jane-Finch neighbourhood following a pair of shootings last month.

The move comes after a39-year-old father and newcomer to Canada was killed anda 16-year-old boy critically injured after being shot in the face in two separate shootingswithin 24 hours of each other near a bus shelter at Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue in February.

Police have said both victims were shot"indiscriminately" while innocently going about their day.

Andrea Tabnorof the grassroots organization Jane and Finch Unity Organizationsaid more needs to be done to support youth at risk of gun violence.

"We're all here because of vulnerable youths and at-risk youths," she said. "We need to get to the root of the situation in order for us to make a difference."

Tabnor spokeafter taking part in a roundtable discussionon gun violence in the neighborhood. Around 30 people attended the meeting, includingthe local councillor, police officers,community housing workers, social workers, city staff and people impacted by gun violence.

Funding a regular issue for community groups

The area around Jane Street and FinchAvenue a historically low-income neighbourhood has seen improvements in community safety in recent years, with police saying lastmonth that gun violence wasat a 10-year low in 2023.

Tabnor said she felt"voices were heard" at the meeting, but stressed the importance of supporting the work of grassroots organizations that have built trust with youth.

"At-risk youths, they come with trust and they come with loyalty and they come with familiar faces," she said.

She said while the city provides funding for such organizations, it's not always communicated to the right people.

"Funding is really an issue for grassroots organizations that need the funding in order toreach the at-risk youth."

WATCH |2 people shot 'indiscriminately' near bus stop, police say:

Police search for suspect in random bus stop shootings

7 months ago

Duration 2:32

Toronto police say two people shot on two different days at the same bus stop were both indiscriminately targeted. They're searching for a suspect, and the community is anxious about safety.

ByronGray grew up in the neighbourhood and is now the manager for the TD Community Engagement Centre atYork University.

He said solutions to community violence require a coordinated response from the grassroots to the federal government.

"This room today was filled with different levels of our community and that's the type of insight and collaboration that we need to come to these solutions," Gray said.

'Policing is not what they're looking for'

Coun. Anthony Perruzza (Humber River-Black Creek) said the meeting featured a "frank conversation" about what can be done to further increase safety,and led to the outline of an action plan featuring both immediate and long-term items.

Perruzza said some of the immediate asks from the community include better informationsharing about city programs and how toaccess them, a more visible police presence andbetter lighting in and around the community centre, at Toronto Community Housing buildings, and on local streets.

In the long term, Perruzza said a working group is being established to engage with the community about designing more effective outreach programs that connect with young people.

"How do we connect with them and give them better, you know, life choices,better paths and better pathways?" he said. "That's something that came up."

Perruzza said creating more safe spaces for young people also emerged as a community priority.

Toronto Police Supt. Andy Singh, unit commander from 31 Division, said police set up a command post at the community centre following the shootings. But he said the force is also focused on non-police interventions.

"We're always trying to address the needs of the community and in a lot of cases it's by bringing in partner agencies, stakeholders from the community," Singh said.

"Because policingis not what they're looking for. We may be the front-end response, but the sustainable solution comes from bringing in organizations that can provide those solutions that what the community needs."