A Toronto courtroom heard sentencing arguments Friday for the last man found guilty in the 2012 shooting during a community barbeque in the city’s east end.
The man, who cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act since he was 17 at the time of the shooting, was convicted of second-degree murder for firing the first shots during the community barbeque block party on Danzig Street in July 2012.
Two people, 23-year-old Joshua Yasay and 14-year-old Shyanne Charles, were killed during the shootout. Twenty-three others were injured.
READ MORE: Toronto man found guilty of second-degree murder in 2012 Danzig shooting
Yasay’s sister, Jenniyln Yasay, and Charles’ grandfather, Tyronne Charles, delivered victim impact statements to the court Friday.
“Shyanne is gone, Josh is gone, that will not change but we have loving memories of them. Gone but not forgotten,” read the statement from Tyronne Charles.
“Not a day goes by that I do not feel an immense sense of void from the loss of my brother,” Jennilyn Yasay said in a statement.
“I still end each day in tears.”
READ MORE: Years after mass shooting, Danzig community moves forward
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Both asked the man to use the time spent in custody to become a better person and seek guidance.
Crown prosecutors pushed in court for the man to be sentenced as an adult.
Meanwhile, the man’s lawyers said he should be sentenced as a youth and cited examples of his good behaviour while in custody. They said he has earned two academic scholarships towards post-secondary education and is viewed as a mentor for other youth.
“He genuinely wants out of the life he had prior to his arrest,” a pre-sentence report said, noting significant progress has been made in custody.
His lawyers also noted that the man is not a Canadian citizen, so an adult sentence could have an impact on his immigration status.
READ MORE: Murder charges withdrawn against man accused in Danzig shooting
Two others involved in the shooting pleaded guilty to numerous charges and did not have their case go to trial.
Galloway Boys street gang member Nahom “Gifted” Tsegazab pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and six counts of aggravated assault in 2014.
Shaquan “Bam Bam” Mesquito pleaded guilty in 2015 to four charges including counselling two people “to commit the indictable offence of murder which offence was not committed” as well as uttering threats and illegal firearm possession.
With files from David Shum and Mark Carcasole.
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