The parents of a Toronto teen who was killed last month issued an emotional public plea for an end to gun violence, after police announced charges in the shooting.
Lecent Ross, 14, was shot inside a townhouse in Toronto's Rexdale neighbourhood on July 9. She later succumbed to her injuries in hospital.
Following the shooting, police said they'd recovered an illegal .40-calibre Smith and Wesson gun from the scene.
The girl's mother, Alicia Jasquith, told media on Friday she was devastated by the loss of her daughter.
"Please, please stop the gun violence... Our young children are being lost to the guns," she said through tears.
"Look at your kids every day and tell them that you love them."
Ross' father also spoke at the conference, saying it was "almost impossible" for him to accept his daughter's death.
"She was supposed to start Grade 9 in September, which is in a couple weeks. She's not going to get that opportunity. She had her whole future to look forward to," Charles Amos-Ross said.
Ross's parents spoke at a news conference after police announced that a youth and an 18-year-old had been charged as a result of the investigation.
Toronto Police Supt. Ron Taverner said the pair of suspects face "a number of charges" including manslaughter, criminal negligence, and firearm-related offences.
According to a statement from police, a 13-year-old youth is facing 14 charges, while the 18-year-old faces 11 charges.
"There are some very significant charges that have been laid," Taverner said, calling the recovered weapon an important piece of evidence in the case.
"Without the gun being there, we wouldn't be standing here today… That's the thing we want to drive to the community."
Police would not provide details on how the suspects obtained the illegal weapon.
"We're not in a position to discuss any of the evidence that we gathered over the past five weeks," Taverner said. He added that the identities of the suspects will not be released at this time.
Police asked anyone with more information on the case to contact police at 416-808-2300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).
