BY KAHA G. – 14 YEARS OLD
On February 16th, 2023, a 15-year-old boy was shot in the parking lot of Weston Collegiate Institute. The Police were called to Weston Collegiate Institute on Pine Street, near Lawrence Avenue West and Jane Street, around noon after reports of a shooting.
It was said that the shooting was a drive-by. Additionally, after the victim was shot multiple times in the chest area, he ran back inside the building, where he was tended to by the staff until an ambulance arrived. His wounds were life-threatening. An article from The Globe and Mail, states that the victim was transported to a local trauma center where he remains in critical condition.
Students evacuated from the building starting from the third floor down, around 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm to the nearest elementary schools.
According to the Toronto Star, the most recent update on the issue was that two 17-year-old male suspects were found in the Peel Region. Norm Proctor of Toronto’s police guns and gangs task force said the suspects drove a grey 2022 Hyundai Elantra. The car was stolen and carjacked before the shooting. In the Toronto Police conference held on Friday, February 17th, 2023, it was said that the victim is in a critical, but stable condition.
I was in the school when the victim was shot, and as noted he and his friends ran back inside the school announcing the shooting. It was a pretty traumatic incident for everyone, and I hope that everyone recovers from this situation physically and mentally. Help will be provided to the students that want it, so that’s a positive start.
Overall, my questions are: Why has there been an increase in youth crimes in Toronto? What are we going to do to prevent them? What drives someone to want to physically harm another? Anger? Pure Hate? Why are our youth throwing their lives away?
I fear our society is plummeting by the second, and that youth crimes are being committed by people younger each time. Gun violence should not be a trend among us.
This incident wasn’t the best start to my year, but I shouldn’t let this define my years of high school left. Our school should not be defined by the unfortunate incidents that occurred because there is no way we could have known or prevented it. The staff always make sure we feel safe, and I’m truly grateful for them.
