westcangunner
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 7
I'll bet this guys gets probation. I know the registration process up here makes me feel safer.
I can't beleive some of the reporters comments, but whats to be expected from a Liberal
(
WCG
Police trace gun that killed boy, 6; alleged owner appears in court
By JAMES MCCARTEN
BRAMPTON, Ont. (CP) - It is a menacing weapon, one that by all accounts is far too heavy and sophisticated for seven-year-old hands, but found its way there anyway - with devastating consequences. The .45-calibre handgun that killed a six-year-old boy when his older sister accidentally fired it at his face is now in the hands of police, as is its alleged owner, Shakur James, the victim's brother.
James, 22, looked solemn when he appeared briefly in court Monday, while police continued the painstaking work of tracing the origins of a weapon they say isn't a garden-variety pistol.
"A .45-calibre is known to be an exceptionally powerful handgun," said Peel police Insp. Mike MacMullen. "They are seized, but they're probably not seized as often in our region as other types of firearms."
The gun, a Spanish-made Star Firestar 45, is a relatively inexpensive version of a military-grade weapon that's hard to use accurately and packs a mighty recoil, said Toronto crime journalist Yves Lavigne.
As such, it's difficult to conceal, making it too cumbersome for most gang members, who prefer to carry lighter, smaller artillery, he added.
"That is not a common gun on the street," Lavigne said. "It's very hard to shoot straight, it kicks like crazy, it makes a lot of noise and it's hard to hide. It'll get caught in your pants."
Nor was the gun registered with the federal gun registry in Ottawa, which has long been assailed as ineffective against illegal handguns, which police complain are appearing more often on Canadian streets.
Lavigne said such a weapon can hold six rounds of ammunition when fully loaded.
"A young kid could not pull back the slide on a .45 to strip a cartridge out of the magazine, and insert it into the chamber," he said. "It takes an adult hand to do that, and you have to know what you're doing."
The tragedy occurred Friday afternoon at the family's townhouse in Mississauga, west of Toronto, when the children were playing in James's room, which he shared with his younger brother Michael.
Police have said it was not the first occasion on which the pair played with the gun.
"We're going to have the firearm traced, so we can speak accurately about its history," MacMullen said.
"By that I mean where it was manufactured, where it was sent to for its first point of sale and its history beyond that, until it came into the possession of this young fellow who we've charged."
James, who appeared in court clad in jeans and a black jacket, is charged with criminal negligence causing death, unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of an unregistered restricted weapon.
He intends to seek bail when his hearing resumes Thursday and will plead not guilty to the charges, said lawyer Enzo Battigaglia.
"He doesn't have a record, and he's never been in trouble with the police, I can tell you that," Battigaglia said outside the courthouse in Brampton, a suburb northwest of Toronto.
"He is employed and he does go to school, but I can't give any more details than that. He's holding up; he's holding up very well, actually."
Friends and family members, including his mother, were present in court Monday to offer support, although they covered their faces and refused to speak to reporters when it was over.
"Obviously it's a tragic and shocking and emotional event for them," Battigaglia said.
"(But) they're behind their son 100 per cent; the parents, relatives - even relatives from abroad, from England and I believe they have relatives in Jamaica - they're fully supportive of him as well."
At school Monday, a critical-incident support team was on hand and will be again Tuesday to offer counselling to those students who need it, said school board spokesman Brian Woodland.
"It's fair to say that staff and students are feeling a real sadness," Woodland said. "Students were asking a lot of questions around how it happened, but also were trying to figure it all out."
For most of the students, the tragedy is likely their first real-life encounter with death, Woodland said. And while educating them about the dangers of guns seemed a natural consequence of the tragedy, Monday was more about being supportive and providing a normal school day.
"They're struggling, and as they always do, they are turning in part to the people of their school for help and support."
The school has been deluged with calls all day, mostly from parents either looking for advice or looking for ways to help, he noted.
I can't beleive some of the reporters comments, but whats to be expected from a Liberal
(WCG
Police trace gun that killed boy, 6; alleged owner appears in court
By JAMES MCCARTEN
BRAMPTON, Ont. (CP) - It is a menacing weapon, one that by all accounts is far too heavy and sophisticated for seven-year-old hands, but found its way there anyway - with devastating consequences. The .45-calibre handgun that killed a six-year-old boy when his older sister accidentally fired it at his face is now in the hands of police, as is its alleged owner, Shakur James, the victim's brother.
James, 22, looked solemn when he appeared briefly in court Monday, while police continued the painstaking work of tracing the origins of a weapon they say isn't a garden-variety pistol.
"A .45-calibre is known to be an exceptionally powerful handgun," said Peel police Insp. Mike MacMullen. "They are seized, but they're probably not seized as often in our region as other types of firearms."
The gun, a Spanish-made Star Firestar 45, is a relatively inexpensive version of a military-grade weapon that's hard to use accurately and packs a mighty recoil, said Toronto crime journalist Yves Lavigne.
As such, it's difficult to conceal, making it too cumbersome for most gang members, who prefer to carry lighter, smaller artillery, he added.
"That is not a common gun on the street," Lavigne said. "It's very hard to shoot straight, it kicks like crazy, it makes a lot of noise and it's hard to hide. It'll get caught in your pants."
Nor was the gun registered with the federal gun registry in Ottawa, which has long been assailed as ineffective against illegal handguns, which police complain are appearing more often on Canadian streets.
Lavigne said such a weapon can hold six rounds of ammunition when fully loaded.
"A young kid could not pull back the slide on a .45 to strip a cartridge out of the magazine, and insert it into the chamber," he said. "It takes an adult hand to do that, and you have to know what you're doing."
The tragedy occurred Friday afternoon at the family's townhouse in Mississauga, west of Toronto, when the children were playing in James's room, which he shared with his younger brother Michael.
Police have said it was not the first occasion on which the pair played with the gun.
"We're going to have the firearm traced, so we can speak accurately about its history," MacMullen said.
"By that I mean where it was manufactured, where it was sent to for its first point of sale and its history beyond that, until it came into the possession of this young fellow who we've charged."
James, who appeared in court clad in jeans and a black jacket, is charged with criminal negligence causing death, unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of an unregistered restricted weapon.
He intends to seek bail when his hearing resumes Thursday and will plead not guilty to the charges, said lawyer Enzo Battigaglia.
"He doesn't have a record, and he's never been in trouble with the police, I can tell you that," Battigaglia said outside the courthouse in Brampton, a suburb northwest of Toronto.
"He is employed and he does go to school, but I can't give any more details than that. He's holding up; he's holding up very well, actually."
Friends and family members, including his mother, were present in court Monday to offer support, although they covered their faces and refused to speak to reporters when it was over.
"Obviously it's a tragic and shocking and emotional event for them," Battigaglia said.
"(But) they're behind their son 100 per cent; the parents, relatives - even relatives from abroad, from England and I believe they have relatives in Jamaica - they're fully supportive of him as well."
At school Monday, a critical-incident support team was on hand and will be again Tuesday to offer counselling to those students who need it, said school board spokesman Brian Woodland.
"It's fair to say that staff and students are feeling a real sadness," Woodland said. "Students were asking a lot of questions around how it happened, but also were trying to figure it all out."
For most of the students, the tragedy is likely their first real-life encounter with death, Woodland said. And while educating them about the dangers of guns seemed a natural consequence of the tragedy, Monday was more about being supportive and providing a normal school day.
"They're struggling, and as they always do, they are turning in part to the people of their school for help and support."
The school has been deluged with calls all day, mostly from parents either looking for advice or looking for ways to help, he noted.
