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
July 28, 2012 - 10:44 AM
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, 2012