2 teens charged in shooting death of Toronto teen Lecent Ross, 14
'Too many of our kids are being lost to guns': Mom of girl killed last month in Rexdale neighbourhood
Two teens have been charged in last month's shooting death of 14-year-old Lecent Ross of Toronto, police said Friday.
The pair face more than 25 charges combined, police said at a news conference.
An 18-year-old man is charged with criminal negligence causing death, use of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm and a number of other weapons offences, including careless storage of a firearm. Police are not releasing the 18-year-old's identity, saying it could help identify the 13-year-old.
Police said the two appeared in court Thursday at 2201 Finch Ave. Their next scheduled court appearance is Wednesday.
Ross died after she was shot with an illegal handgun inside a home on Jamestown Crescent in the city's Rexdale neighbourhood on July 9.
Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner would not discuss any details about evidence in the case, including who pulled the trigger or whether the shooting was the result of an accident.
Lecent's mother, Alicia Jesquith, spoke briefly at Friday's news conference.
"Too many of our kids are being lost to guns," she said.
She made a plea to parents, asking them to know who their children's friends are and "who they're hanging out with every day."
Jesquith said her daughter was a straight-A student who dreamed of becoming a lawyer.
Police said the gun used to kill Ross was found at the scene.
Ross's uncle Troy Ross said the charges are a positive step, but can't come close to easing the family's pain.
"I can't say we're very happy, because it doesn't bring our niece back," he said.