The family of eight-year-old JahVai Roy is mourning his tragic death from a stray bullet. His mother, Holly Roy, has shared details about his last moments in hopes of keeping his memory alive. JahVai was shot early Saturday morning while in bed at their North York apartment. Police reported that the gunfire originated from the street near Martha Eaton Way and Trethewey Drive, but no suspects have been identified.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Holly Roy described how her son was excited about attending his best friend's birthday party. "He was so excited he couldn’t sleep!" she wrote. While they were in bed together, they heard two shots. "It took a minute to realize it wasn’t fireworks," she recalled. JahVai sat up, fear evident on his face, as three more shots rang out. "There was nothing I can do but scream and hold his lifeless little body. I cannot get that image out of my head," she said. She urged others to remember her son, stating, "Remember his name!!! Never forget his name!!"

In another post, she expressed her wish to return JahVai to Wikwemikong, a First Nation on Manitoulin Island, for burial in his favorite shoes, stating, "He loves his shoes."

Marcell Wilson, a family spokesperson and founder of the One by One Movement, an anti-violence organization, emphasized the need for JahVai's name to serve as a "beacon of light" and for society to recognize the urgency of addressing gun violence. JahVai had previously appeared in a video for the organization, advocating against bullying with the message, "be nice."

Wilson noted that the North York neighborhood where JahVai lived has faced ongoing issues with violence. He described it as a "marginalized community" and highlighted that most residents are hardworking individuals striving to improve their circumstances.

Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw expressed condolences to JahVai’s family and called for anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. The investigation remains ongoing, with no updates provided by police on Sunday.

This incident is not isolated. In 2021, a shooting at the same apartment complex resulted in the death of 42-year-old Jerome Sylvester, and in September 2024, 15-year-old Mario Giddings was shot and killed nearby. Although shootings have decreased in 2025 compared to the previous year, Wilson noted that they are becoming more brazen, with innocent bystanders increasingly at risk.

He cited past incidents, including a 2018 shooting that injured two young sisters at a playground and a chaotic gunfight in November that involved up to 100 bullets but resulted in no injuries. Wilson criticized the current state of violence, stating, "Maybe I’m a dinosaur now, but back in my day, if you had an issue with someone, you made sure that civilians didn’t get hurt. That has dramatically changed."

He called for action to remove illegal firearms from the streets and for society to invest in prevention programs. "We want this to be a wake-up call. Your children are not safe," Wilson said.