Toronto church groups march against violence
Updated Sat. Aug. 6 2005 11:52 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

After gunfire took another young Torontonian's life, church groups held simultaneous marches in four of the city's most troubled neighborhoods.

"We pray that miracles shall walk in this community, Lord. We pray that this will be hallowed ground!" said Toronto pastor Orim Meikle on Saturday in the notorious Jane and Finch area in the city's far northwest.

A miracle is what it might take. Gangs and drug dealers have terrorized the area for decades.

Honest families are scared to assist the police, fearing retribution from the bad guys.

For example, some young thugs opened fire on a Jane Street bus last December after someone asked them to hold their voices down. Two people were wounded, including a 12-year-old girl.

But despite the number of people on the bus, the police got very little co-operation and still haven't made an arrest.

Meikle said: "We are saying get back on the streets. You are taxpayers. Begin to walk your streets as a community. Get out there: Do not be held hostage by thugs and gangsters."

But Long-time Jane/Finch resident Vera Lauzon said: "I've lived here for 29 years. Never afraid to go out; I used to take my dog out at 3 o'clock in the morning. And now, at 11 o'clock, I wouldn't go down to do my laundry. I'm scared silly."

Other marches were held in Regent Park, Malvern and Jamestown -- all famous for drug problems, poverty and shooting incidents.

Another death

On Friday night, Toronto recorded its 40th homicide.

Melbourne Whittick, 27, was waiting for a bus in far northeast Toronto when he got into an argument with two other young men. One of them shot Whittick in the stomach.

In the past two weeks, there have been 17 people hit by gunfire, five of whom have died.

One of the most tragic cases was that of four-year-old Shaquan Cadougan, who was hit by four bullets Wednesday night. His mother said one of the bullets will have to be left in him.

The incident was a drive-by shooting. Police think the target was Shaquan's older brother Junior.

The motive? Possibly jealousy.

Fifteen-year-old Junior is considering one of the best players for his age in Canada. He's never been in a gang or otherwise been in trouble with the law.

"... I just think people don't like that fact that someone in another area of the Jane and Finch area is being successful," Ro Russell, a basketball coach and Cadougan family friend, told the Globe and Mail.

Police have arrested four in connection with that shooting, and Police Chief Bill Blair has flooded the area with extra officers.

With a report from CTV's Karlene Nation