The mother of 33-year-old Candice Rochelle Bobb, the woman who was five months pregnant when she was gunned down in a west-end Toronto neighbourhood last year, issued an emotional plea to her daughter’s killer on Wednesday to turn themselves in.
“It’s been a year and you’re out there enjoying your life and we’ve been handed a life sentence,” Jackie Weir told reporters during a press conference at Toronto police headquarters. Investigators have announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects involved in the fatal shooting.
“You don’t deserve to have the freedom. We haven’t been free in over a year.”
Police said Bobb was in a vehicle with three other people returning from a basketball game when gunfire erupted on May 15, 2016 in the city’s Jamestown neighbourhood. Police said she was not the intended target.
“I can’t say at this point if any one of the individuals in the car is targeted,” Det. Sgt. Mike Carbone said. “But I can say something in that movement of that vehicle that evening caused them to be targeted.”
Her baby boy, named Kyrie, was delivered prematurely by emergency C-section but died three weeks later.
READ MORE: Suspect in shooting of pregnant Toronto woman would be charged in baby’s death if caught
“He came into this world way too early and under extremely difficult circumstances,” Weir said. “Their deaths have been very difficult for us. It has left a void in our lives.”
Carbone told reporters in February that the person or persons responsible for the shooting death of the pregnant mother would also face murder charges in connection to the infant’s death.
“Rochelle was the life of the family. She kept us all together. She’s got a great sense of humour. We miss her laughter. We miss her smile and we miss her beautiful hazel eyes,” Weir said.
“She left behind two boys and they miss their mom every minute of the day.”
Police said the investigation is “progressing” but are looking for more witnesses to come forward.
“I tell Jackie this every time we speak that I’m never disappointed in the sense that we’re always moving forward,” Carbone said. “We would certainly like some more information, that’s why we’re doing this appeal again.”
Investigators say they have acquired “quite a bit” of surveillance video from the scene of the shooting but none has been released to the public.
Police will also canvass the neighbourhood Wednesday to speak to anyone who may have any details related to the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
VIDEO: Toronto Police announced on Wednesday that they are canvassing the neighbourhood where a pregnant woman, Candice Rochelle Bobb, was gunned down. A $50,000 reward was also offered for any new leads.