TORONTO — Security video of Jamestown Crescent the night of March 30th shows a dark vehicle pull around the corner, two men jump out and run back the direction they came from, hugging the wall.
It was then that 46-year-old Donald Beckles, husband and father of two, was shot dead as he stood on his doorstep smoking a cigarette.
“They executed him right where he stood,” said Det. Murray Barnes with the Toronto Police Service Homicide Unit. “Bear in mind that Donald Beckles is hearing impaired, and likely did not hear or see his killers coming.”
Police believe Beckles was targeted simply because he was the first person the killers saw. They would not elaborate further about the motive. However, they believe there are people in the community who not only know who did it, but even witnessed the cold-blooded killing. They pleaded with those people to come forward.
WATCH: Donald Beckles’ mother makes an emotional appeal to his killer
“His killers do not deserve the protection of community silence,” said Barnes. “Let me say that again because that’s very important, the killers of Donald Beckles do not deserve the protection of community silence.”
Police and family emphasized that Beckles was innocent and had no gang affiliations or police history.
“Donald is like my hands and feet. He does everything I need,” said his mother, Edith Beckles. “Everybody in my building is mourning the death of Donald.”
Beckels was described as “a good man.”
“I wish I had that much strength of character and integrity. He was the real thing,” said his cousin, Gordon Beckles.
Beckles’ mother said she was angry, but not unforgiving.
“I am perplexed but I am not in despair. I am not forsaken and I am not cast down. I am not destroyed, I will not let this destroy me.”
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