Questions still surround death of Lecent Ross, 14, after arrests made

“Please, please stop the gun violence”, she begged.

Two grieving families: One making the painful effort of looking inward at what role they may have played in their child’s senseless death; the other, lashing out at everyone else, lawyering up with veiled threats to sue the city and the nightclub, yet not acknowledging at all the grave responsibility they themselves must bear for his death.

The boy can not be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

“Too many of our kids are being lost to guns”, she said.

Toronto Police Det. Richard Petrie said the girl was pronounced dead at 11:30 a.m. and died of a single gunshot wound to her upper body, fired by an illegal semi-automatic handgun, which has since been seized by police.

An 18-year-old man has also been charged with criminal negligence causing death and numerous other offences in connection with the shooting, Toronto police told a news conference Friday.

Alicia Jesquith, Lecent’s mom, spoke at the news conference, telling parents to “look at your kids every day and tell them that you love them”. “Whenever I see someone with a gun, I take it away and report it to police”.

She also urged parents to “check their bags. Know who they’re hanging around with every day”.

“It’s hard to accept death but when it’s someone who’s 14 years old and so close to you, it’s nearly impossible”, Charles Ross said. I’m asking please, look at your kids.

“She was supposed to start Grade 9 in September and she is not going to get that opportunity”. Know who their friends are.

Detectives have laid charges, but said they will not release the details of the offenses until Friday when both the 18-year-old and the youth are expected to appear in court.

Police asked anyone with more information on the case to contact police at 416-808-2300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).

“But it has to correspond with a leader like Mr. Tory making a statement, like ‘We want guns off our streets”.