Lecent Ross, 14, died after a shooting in Rexdale on July 9, 2015.
The adults of Toronto's Jamestown Crescent have a ritual after sudden gun deaths in the neighbourhood, after living through several in recent months. They carry crates of soft drinks, bottled water and beer to the grieving family, then sit and talk on the front stoop.
On Thursday, the children of the public housing complex on the tiny north Etobicoke street struggled in their own way to grasp a loss. Lecent Ross, an outgoing 14-year-old who babysat and often walked around with a group of friends, was fatally shot Thursday morning at a nearby home.
There were no parents in the room at the time of the shooting, police say. They consider Lecent's death suspicious and can't yet confirm whether it was an accident or who pulled the trigger, said Detective Rich Petrie of the Toronto Police Service.
Lecent's family learned at the hospital that she had been shot in the face, a relative said. When news reached the street that she had died, clusters of teenage girls began to sob, and a six-year-old girl who lived next door to Lecent screamed at the top of her lungs as she ran down the sidewalk toward her mother.
Police wouldn't say how many people were home when Lecent was shot, but said all were co-operating with police. Neighbours who witnessed the aftermath said the family's daughter, about nine years old, cried as officers led her out of the house.
The family also has four sons, said neighbours. One of the boys was around Lecent's age and had dated her "on and off," said Janet Delisser, who said she was the girl's cousin.
If no one is charged with Lecent's death, police still may lay charges around the possession of the illegally obtained, short-barrelled handgun that killed her, said Det. Petrie. At a news conference, he implored the public to help quell the flood of illegal guns into Toronto by tipping off police about them.
"An innocent fourteen-year-old girl has been taken from us today," said Det. Petrie.
He listed the recent deaths of several teenagers near Jamestown Crescent, calling the number of guns in Toronto "unbelievable."
Lecent, who moved to Jamestown Crescent about two years ago, was grieving another recent gun death on the street. One of her best friends was the daughter of Donald Beckles, 46, who was shot to death on his front porch just around the corner from Lecent's home.
Police said Mr. Beckles, who was hearing impaired, probably didn't hear his killer approach and said he had been "executed." He had no criminal record. No one has been charged.
On Thursday, Mr. Beckles's widow, Edyth, arrived on the street by car and ran toward the house where Lecent had been shot before police stopped her. Also hearing-impaired, she said later by writing that Lecent had been very affectionate toward her whole family.
Along with several attempted murders, at least two young men have been killed in north Etobicoke in recent months. In April, 17-year-old Trevor Seraphine was shot while visiting a friend's house near Eglinton Avenue West and Martin Grove Road. Police arrested three people in his death. In March, 22-year-old Malcolm Marfo died in a community housing tower near Islington Avenue and Dixon Road. Police arrested six people and linked them to the Dixon City Bloods gang.
Many people living on Jamestown Crescent keep guns at home in case of break-ins or attacks, said Fitzroy Bell, who lives next door to Lecent's family.
"If I buy a gun, it's for my own protection. It's not to shoot people," he said. "They just keep it inside. … But if you bring it outside, if somebody pushes you, you're going to use it."
Vanessa Pokhan, a neighbour, said she hired Lecent as a babysitter after the girl's school recommended her.
"She's a good kid," said Ms. Pokhan. "Obedient, very soft spoken. Very friendly towards my kids."