Lecent Ross, 14, killed with illegal handgun, Toronto police say

Fourteen-year-old Lecent Ross was fatally shot with an illegal,semi-automatic weaponin Toronto on Thursday morning in what a police detective described as apreventable and "suspicious" tragedy.

Officers were called to ahouse on Jamestown Crescent, a street near Martin Grove Road and Finch Avenue West in the city's northwest end, around 10:30 a.m. ET.

People knew about this gun, it didn't just show up.- Det. Rich Petrie

Ross had been shot in the upper bodyand was raced by paramedics to a trauma centre,but she was pronounced dead later that morning.

Det. Rich Petrie told a news conference theshot came from anan "illegal, prohibited, semi-automatichandgun."

He saidinvestigators are looking into reports the shooting may have been accidental, and are treating the death as suspicious.

"People knew about this gun, it didn't just show up. It came from somewhere. Somebody knew about it, somebody could have called Crime Stoppers," Petrie said.

"Somebody was aware of that gun and they chose to turn a blind eye, and this is where we are."

The gun, a .40-calibre short-barreledSmith & Wesson,has been seized, those present at the time of the shooting are being questioned and investigators aren't looking for any suspects, Petrie said Thursday afternoon.

RAW: Police news conference

9 years ago

Duration 8:00

Toronto police speak to reporters about the shooting death of Lecent Ross.

Visiting the house

Police said there was an adult and other children present at the time of the shooting. The adult did notwitnessthe shooting but isco-operating with the investigation, Petrie said.

Petrie said Rosswas visiting the house and had no family members with her.

The gunwill be tested for DNA, fingerprints, and ballistics to determine if it's been used in any other incidents in the city, he said.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the girl fired the fatal shot or if someone else was involved.

"I'm certainly not ready to say this was done intentionally by her or even an accident by her," Petrie said.

Petriesaid charges will be laid when police find out who the gun belongs to and who fired the weapon.

Petriesaid that part of the city,Rexdale, and the city in general have seen too much gun violence.

"It's unbelievable the number of guns in this city," he said.

Mother devastated

Ross's mother, Alicia Jasquith, spoke briefly to reporters Thursdayevening. Flanked by loved ones and clutching photos of her daughter, shesaid she was "shocked and devastated."

"My daughter how could this be? What did I do?" she said before being overcome by tears.

An area resident, who spoke to CBC News on condition of anonymity, said Rossoften babysat her three children. She said Ross wasanintelligent and respectful girl who was looking forward to attending high school.

The woman said Ross taught her children to write their names, and taught them right from wrong.

"She was an excellent kid."

The woman told CBC News she fears for her life and the livesof her children because of the violence that has plagued Rexdale, and the Jamestown neighbourhood in particular. But she also spoke out against the area's bad reputation.

"There are actually some people that live here and work here and have good educations," she said. "We're not all drinking, drugging and warring with guns."