Toronto police have made an arrest in the homicide of 8-year-old JahVai Roy, who was killed by a stray bullet while in bed last month. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. The boy, who cannot be named under the Young Persons Act, was 15 at the time of the incident.
The shooting occurred around 12:30 a.m. on August 16, as JahVai was cuddling with his mother, Holly Roy, in their apartment on Martha Eaton Way in the Black Creek neighborhood. Gunfire erupted outside their home, and JahVai, thinking he heard fireworks, sat up to investigate. Tragically, he was struck by a bullet that penetrated the window of their second-floor unit.
Holly Roy described the moment, saying, "He sat up to see what was going on and was fatally shot by a bullet that struck their window." JahVai was quickly taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
In addition to the arrest, police are actively searching for two additional suspects: 17-year-old Ibrahim Ibrahim and Amaril Lindner, who was also 17 at the time of the shooting but has since turned 18. Both are wanted for first-degree murder. Authorities have received judicial authorization to publicly identify the two suspects.
Police Chief Myron Demkiw announced the developments during a press conference at Toronto police headquarters. The investigation continues as authorities work to locate the remaining suspects.