A 21-year-old man found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the deadly Danzig Street shooting in 2012 has been sentenced to life in prison.
Folorunso Owusu, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was sentenced as an adult and will have to serve at least seven years in prison before he can apply for parole.
Owusu was found guilty in March on two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated assault and one count of reckless discharge.
During his trial, the Crown claimed that Owusu was the first to start firing at the Scarborough block party and although none of the shots he fired fatally wounded anyone, it resulted in an exchange of gunfire that led to the deaths of 23-year-old Joshua Yasay and 14-year-old Shyanne Charles. More than 20 others were injured in the shooting.
Police said the shootout began at the neighbourhood barbeque following a dispute between members of two local street gangs.
Two other men have been convicted with various offences in connection with the July 16 shooting.
In 2014, Nahom Tsegazab, then 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and six counts of aggravated assault and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The third man charged in the shooting, Shaquan Mesquito, pleaded guilty in 2015 to counselling to commit murder, possession of a firearm, breaching a prohibition order and uttering a threat. He was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in the shooting.
Speaking outside the courthouse on Wednesday, Det.-Sgt. Peter Trimble, an investigators assigned to the case, said he is "very pleased" Owusu was sentenced as an adult.
"This is the biggest mass shooting that we’ve had," he told reporters.
"So for someone to not be convicted as an adult in this situation, I don’t think the public would stand for it."
He added that there is still one suspect who has not yet been identified in connection with the shooting.
"I believe there are people still in the Danzig community who know the identity of (this suspect)," he said. "I’ve made this plea many times but I would like some people to come forward."
Families say justice served
Overcome with emotion, Joshua Yasay’s sisters spoke outside the courthouse and said the loss of their brother is with them every day, but the sentencing today brings some measure of relief.
“It’s been a huge lift off of our shoulders. It’s been agony to relive this every day, day by day,” Jennilyn Yasay said. “We’ve had to be here as a family every single day. We’ve never missed court. And to hear that justice was served here today for all – not just Joshua and Shayan, but all the other victims that were injured that day at Danzig Street shooting, not just them but their families – We’ve suffered permanently.
“We’re never going to get Joshua back. But we know that there is justice and we have faith in the justice system. We continue to have faith in god and pray.”
The family thanked the judges, detectives and lawyers in the case and appealed for the remaining suspect to come forward.
“Every day I always think about him and knowing that he’s not with us and beside us, it tears me apart,” Joshua’s other sister Janelle Yasay said.
Joshua’s father said he was pleased with the sentencing and said the loss of his son has had a permanent impact on his family.
“He was the best son. We were expecting him to be a policeman one day and serve the community,” he said.
Speaking with reporters, Shayan Charles’ mother, Afifa Charles, said her life hasn’t been the same since the shooting.
“The journey has been hard, long, painful. Ever since my daughter passed away July 16, I never slept,” Charles said. “To see your daughter laying on the ground dead and there’s nothing you can do is the worst pain a mother, a father can ever feel. I just want justice. I thank the police officers, the lawyers, the judge for doing a good job. There was a lot of justice today. He got a life sentence and I think that’s wonderful and good.
“If you want to walk with a handgun into a BBQ and act like a grown man, then you should be charged like a grown man.”
Speaking through tears, she said that while she’s happy that justice was done today, she wants the remaining suspect to turn himself in.
“I’m still hurt that my daughter’s killer is still out there. I’m happy that Josh’s family got justice, but I’m still hurt that my daughter’s killer is still out there,” Charles said. “Too many lives have been gone. My daughter was only 14. She didn’t deserve to die like that.
“I want him to come forward. You know who you are. You know what you did. People know who did it and they need to put themselves in my shoes and realize a 14-year-old girl got killed for no reason, for no reason.”
