Another Mother’s Day has passed but Stephanie Johnston wouldn’t acknowledge it without her son. Her 14-year-old son, Adrian, was gunned down in a hydro field off Scarlett Rd. north of St. Clair Ave. W. a year ago.
Last August, Stephanie, friends of Adrian, and Clemee Joseph — whose son, Jarvis St. Remy, was also murdered last year in the area and also remains unsolved — gathered at the spot to celebrate the lad’s birthday.
“Adrian was so excited (about celebrating) his 15th birthday, but he never got to have it,” Stephanie said.
“He enjoyed hanging out with his friends, listening to music ... and just living life as a regular teen. He could always make you laugh. His life was cut too short.
“It’s not fair.”
Adrian and Remy, 18, were gunned down during a bloody four-month period in early 2009, during which eight people were slain. There was fear of a violent conflict between two rival gangs, the 5 Point Generalz and the Gatorz, that caught victims in the middle.
Police responded with the Toronto Anti-Violence Initiative Strategy and violence dropped. And last week, Project Corral targeted the 5PG and two other gangs.
Answers may be forthcoming, police hope.
But no matter how many days pass, it’s not getting easier for the mom who lost her only child.
“I try not to celebrate the holidays so much anymore because, for me, there is nothing to celebrate,” she said Monday.
“Of course, I miss him. He was my whole life. I’m lost without him.
“Each day has been really difficult and I pray every day that someone will be brought to justice before they take some other child’s life.
“The days for me don’t get easier, they get harder the more time that goes by.
“I miss my son more and more each minute that passes. He was my only child and the highlight of my life.”
The answer she seeks is on the streets, but the information about who killed Adrian appears not to be forthcoming.
“Oh, I’m sure people have the answers, but the code of the street prevents people from talking,” Stephanie said. “The police chief needs to step up and take control of this city.
“Too many people are suffering.
“Adrian was a good kid. He didn’t deserve this and he had a bright future that was taken away.”
Source: Toronto Sun Tuesday May 11th edition
Special thanks to Rob Lamberti at the Toronto Sun Crime Bureau for rushing this story for me for publication in time for Adrian's remembrance and our thoughts and prayers are with Stephanie and her family at this time. Leave a tribute at http://respectance.com/adrian
Please never FORGET ADRIAN!!! Anyone with info on Adrian's murder should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or Det Brian Borg at 416-808-7400. PLS HELP!! IT COULD BE YOUR OWN KID!!! WE HOPE NOT!
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