Toronto man shot dead may have been in wrong place at wrong time, investigators say
Friends and family are grieving the sudden loss of a passionate community advocate and leader in Toronto’s Jane and Finch community who was gunned down a week ago in the North York neighbourhood.
Kwadwo ‘Sam’ Asamoah-Boakye, 30, grew up in the northwest Toronto neighbourhood and was very involved in making a positive difference within the community.
“It’s very challenging,” Mohamed Ahmed, a friend and colleague of Asamoah-Boakye's for the past 10 years and co-executive director of Success Beyond Limits, said.
“We’re having a hard time with Sam’s loss. We’re having a hard time with the families we’re working with.”
Ahmed said Asamoah-Boakye ran programs to help young people finish high school and pursue education.
“Sam was hilarious ... He was an amazing person to be around. He was able, I feel, to connect with the ambition we have within ourselves and bring that to life.”
On top of being a father to a two-year-old, he also cared for another child. He was a graduate of African studies and political science at the University of Toronto.
Kwadwo ‘Sam’ Asamoah-Boakye, courtesy of Ameen Binwalee.
Toronto Police Services (TPS) said Asamoah-Boakye was shot multiple times and died of his injuries. The shooting happened on Sept. 7 shortly before 9 p.m. near Driftwood Ave. and Grandravine Dr in North York.
Two cousins tell CTV News Toronto that Asamoah-Boakye was visting family the night he was gunned down and that the incident occured as he was leaving.
Police say no arrests have been made.
Investigators have been speaking with witnesses and reviewing video footage. They’re not ruling out the possibility that Asamoah- Boakye could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, they say.
“It’s a shock. That’s the only thing I can see because he was a unifying dude,” Ameen Binwalee said. Binwalee has known Asamoah-Boakye for about 10 years and is the CEO of Out of the Box, a social enterprise and construction organization — an entity co-founded by Asamoah-Boakye.
Binwalee says bringing people together in and around Toronto was one of Asamoah-Boakye’s passions.
“Everybody knew him. From the community workers to the business people to people in the community and he got along with everybody,” he said.
A GoFundMe page set up by relatives is asking for prayers and donations, saying “the magnitude of this tragedy is inconceivable”.
Binwalee says coming together now and sharing Asamoah-Boakye’s light is a way to honour his life.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.