Lecent Ross gun death brings grief, anger to Toronto community

A pastor in Toronto's northwest pleaded with his community Friday to stop gun violence in the wake of 14-year-old LecentRoss's death.

Ross was fatally shot Thursday with an illegal,semi-automatic weaponat ahouse on Jamestown Crescentin what police call a preventable and "suspicious" tragedy.

• LecentRoss, 14, killed with illegal handgun, police say

Ross had been shot in the upper bodyand was raced by paramedics to a trauma centre,but she was pronounced dead later that morning.It's still unclear whowas holding thehandgun and whyit was fired.

"We have to put a stop to the violence," saidKeatonAustin, a pastor at Abundant Life Assembly inEtobicoke. "The community needs to come together now, especially the parents and community leaders. We need to address this violence. We're burying too [many]young brothers and older guys, too.

"As a pastor, I don't want to see mothers crying anymore," he said. "I want to see parents set an example for their kids."

Members of the teen's family echoed the pastor's sentiments. They expressed frustration at the gun violence that has plagued their community. Ross's friend, 16-year-old Trevor Seraphine, had been killed in a drive-by shooting in February.

Dante Ross, the girl's aunt said,"Stop being friends to your children and be parents to your children."

'She didn't deserve this'

Troy Ross, the 14-year-old's uncle, said nothing he could do would bring backhis niece, but he wants to speak out to stop the next victim of gun violence.

"It's not cool to own a firearm. It's not cool to walk around with a firearm," he said.

Earlier Friday, Ross' mother, Alicia Jasquith, questioned the tragedy.

"Why did this happen to my daughter?" she said. "She didn't deserve this."

Jasquith, who spoke to reporters not far from the home where Ross was shot, said her daughter dreamed of becoming a lawyer.

"She was a special individual," added Jasquith, who identified her daughter early Friday. "I lost her too soon."