‘Nobody is immune to craziness’

Local residents fear latest stabbing another sign of worsening crime

Coxwell and Cosburn avenues intersection where stabbing took place.
Coxwell and Cosburn avenues intersection where stabbing took place. Google Maps

An East York resident was at home relaxing on Feb. 28 when she saw a crowd of people and police through her window.

She saw them gathered near Coxwell and Cosburn avenues a block away and later found out a 16-year-old boy was a victim of stabbing just steps from a nearby high school.

“I was quite shocked when I found out,” said the resident, who preferred not to give her name. “To think, you can’t stand at the bus stop without getting stabbed.”

The two alleged attackers left their victim injured at a bus stop and fled. Police say witnesses rushed to his aid. The boy was rushed to hospital with multiple stab wounds, according to police.

Two boys, 16 and 17-years-old, have been charged with attempted murder. The 16-year-old was also charged with robbery and weapon possession.

Neither suspect can be named due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act but the school board has confirmed to media that the victim is a student at East York Collegiate Institute.

Rachel, who didn’t want her last name used, has lived in the area for seven years. She thinks that the stabbing is just another example that crime in the city is getting worse.

“My house was robbed not too long ago, and a friend of ours also,” Rachel said. “I guess nobody is immune to craziness.”

Statistics from the Toronto Police Service show that 2018 has so far seen over 6,300 major crimes such as assault, robbery and murder. That is an 11 per cent increase from 2017, which saw around 5800.

Still, Rachel said the stabbing doesn’t make her any more afraid to step out of her house or concerned about the neighborhood’s youth.

“We just have to hope for the best and try to be a good example for the young ones around us.”

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Posted: Mar 11 2018 2:53 pm
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