Today marks the eighth anniversary of one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history.
On June 12, 2012—in an event that would make international headlines—three men opened fire at a crowd of over 200 people at block party on Danzig Street in Scarborough, Toronto. It resulted in the deaths of two people, Joshua Yasay, 23, and Shyanne Charles, 14, and the injury of 24 people including two of the attackers. The shooting victims were aged 22 months to 33 years.
Joshua Yasay and Shyanne Charles
The Danzig Street shooting came just six weeks after another high profile shooting at Toronto’s Eaton Centre which had taken place just six weeks earlier, and highlighted an already deadly summer on the Toronto streets. It was the worst mass shooting in the city’s history.
On July 20, 2012, the community hit the streets for the “Angels March” organized by Scarborough rapper Preme, who went by the name P. Reign at the time. “Over a thousand people came out in support of the victims and their families, and marched from 4301 Kingston Road to Danzig Street, which is where the shootings occurred.”
Joshua Yasay and Shyanne Charles
Footage of the march can be found in Preme’s video for “Angels” which was released in Aug. 2012 as a tribute to the two young people who lost their lives that fateful evening.
“…if we don’t start inspiring these kids to dream.”
Joshua Yasay, a community mentor and aspiring police officer, and Shyanne Charles, a student with a bright future, were also honoured by Drake on the Snoop Dogg reggae track “No Guns Allowed.” Drake rapped:
Told you no guns and you didn’t listen
Life is so heavy with that on your soul
Dedicate this to Shyanne and Josh
And pour something out for the lives that they stole
You can find “Angels” and “No Guns Allowed” below.
Rest In Peace, Josh and Shyanne
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