TORONTO – Sammy Yatim’s parents don’t blame the entire Toronto Police Service for the death of their 18-year-old son.
In a written statement released Tuesday, the family said they “do not hold any ill will against the thousands of police officers who work to protect us each day.”
The family also thanked Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair for reaching out to them.
“This is a tragedy for all involved,” the statement reads.
It echoes comments made by family friend Joseph Nazer outside of the Yatim home on Tuesday.
Yatim was shot dead by a Toronto police officer shortly after midnight on Friday while he was alone, wielding a knife, near the front doors of the otherwise empty 505 Streetcar on Dundas Street west.
“There are no good words or sentiments that we can express that will embody how we feel right now. We are heart-broken, confused and still in a state of shock,” the family statement reads. “We are living a nightmare we can’t seem to wake up from.”
Yatim graduated from Brebeuf College School at Bayview Avenue and Steeles Avenue in June and was planning on attending college in September.
Yatim’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday.
The pain was evident on the face of Sahar Bahadi, Yatim’s mother, during an interview with Global News Monday.
“No use of anger, no use of anything, no feeling, just sadness. I’m very sad,” she said.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the shooting, as it does any police-involved death, and Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair has promised an internal report of his own.
Mayor Rob Ford also commented briefly on the shooting Tuesday, expressing his condolences to the family but noting that “none of us know the facts.”
“My condolences, my sympathies, my prayers go out to the family,” he said. “I cannot address what happened a few nights ago. It’s unfortunate, it’s sad.”
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