Killing of Jahvai Roy


Jahvai Dominic Reese Roy was a 8-year-old Canadian boy of Ojibway-Jamaican heritage who was struck and killed by a stray bullet while he and his mother were lying in bed in their North York apartment in Toronto. Three teenagers were arrested for the shooting.

Murder

On August 15, 2025, at 12:27 a.m., police responded to a call for sound of gunshots at Martha Eaton Way and Trethewey Drive in the Brookhaven-Amesbury neighborhood in North York. Police arrived on scene and located Jahvai in his apartment unit, suffering a gunshot wound. He was transported via emergency run to a local hospital. where he later died from his injuries.
Jahvai death marked Toronto's 26 Homicide of 2025, and the fourth child killed in a shooting in 2025.

Arrests

On September 5 Police arrested a 16 year old suspect who was 15 at the time of the murder and charged him with first-degree-murder he was also charged with Possess Firearm Without Holding a Licence, Possess Loaded Regulated Firearm, Possess Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence, Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, Alter/Make Firearm Automatic, a loaded firearm was also located during the arrest.
On September 25, Police arrested the 18-year-old suspect, who was 17 at the time of the murder, in London, Ontario and charged him with First-Degree-Murder.
On October 29, Durham Regional Police responded to a break-and-enter call in Oshawa and arrested the 17-year-old suspect he was charged by Durham Regional Police for Enter Where Prohibited, Obstruct a Public/Peace Officer, Possess Schedule I Substance for Trafficking Cocaine, Possess Schedule I Substance for Trafficking Fentanyl, Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted/Prohibited Firearm, Possess Loaded Firearm, Breach of Probation and Possess Contrary to Order and then First Degree Murder and two counts of fail to comply with undertaking by Toronto Police
None of the suspects could be identified due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which forbids police in Canada from identifying criminals under the age of 18.

Reactions

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said the shooting was a "Horrific, senseless act"
Homicide Detective. Jason Davis said the shooting was "a senseless, cowardly act that extinguished the life of a little boy"
Toronto Police Chief, Myron Demkiw said "He was at home when a group of people brazenly fired guns outside of his apartment building a stray bullet struck him while he was in bed — in bed in his own room, the place that should have been the safest" in a news conference.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the "boy's death was "heartbreak­ing" and called on the federal government to toughen Canada's bail system" and also said "'A little boy lost his life': Those responsible for JahVai Roy's death should see no leniency from courts'.
On August 21 a vigil was held by Jahvai's mother, Holly Roy where she said I buried my son yesterday,” “I told him, ‘You can watch over me now from up there."
A GoFundMe was set up for Jahvai's family, it raised 91,330 dollars.