Hundreds at funeral for Shyanne Charles, 14, victim of street barbecue shooting

CP19556735
Afifa Charles, mother of shooting victim Shyanne Charles, walks into the funeral service for her daughter outside of Highland funeral home in Toronto on Saturday, July 28, 2012. The fourteen-year-old was caught in a cross-fire which left two dead and 23 injured during a community barbecue in east-end Toronto on July 16. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu

TORONTO – Hundreds of mourners have gathered for the funeral of 14-year-old Shyanne Charles at the Highland Funeral Home in east-end Toronto today.

Dozens arrived in buses at the funeral for Charles, who was one of two people killed in a shooting rampage at a community barbecue July 16.

Her grandfather, Tyrone Charles, said outside the service is one of remembrance and visitors are wearing white to symbolize Shyanne’s innocence and purity.

Pastor Tyrone Haynes is presiding over the funeral where mourners are being asked to remember Shyanne with songs, poetry and thoughts through an open microphone.

Joshua Yasay, 23, of Ajax, Ont., also died when the gunfire broke out and 23 others were injured.

Marilyn Ortega, whose son Ruddin Dexter Greaves was killed in a shooting in north Toronto 15 years ago Friday, said before going inside that gun violence in Toronto needs to stop.

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

Related Articles