Toronto police are crediting "courageous" members of a tight-knit school community for coming forward with information that led to the arrests of two teenage boys after a 15-year-old student was shot to death last week.
Toronto police Staff Insp. Brian Raybould told reporters Monday that the shooting of Jordan Manners was 'absolutely not' gang-related.
(CBC)
Jordan Manners was killed on May 23 by a single shot to the chest at his high school, C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute, near the Jane-Finch area of Toronto, reputed to have a high crime rate.
The two 17-year-old boys who were charged in the slaying knew Manners and "probably were friends" with him, Staff Insp. Brian Raybould said at a news conference Monday morning.
Raybould said that a motive has not yet been established, but the shooting was "absolutely not" gang-related. Both teens have been charged with first-degree murder, though Raybould acknowledged that there was only one shooter.
At their brief appearance in a Finch Avenue West courtroom Monday morning, one teen swayed nervously during proceedings, while the other hung his head. Crown prosecutors have indicated they will seek adult-length sentences for the two if they are found guilty.
The teens were remanded in custody and are scheduled to make another court appearance on June 4 via video link to avoid the media.
Family of accused shocked by arrest
Alana Barnes and Laurie Galway, the lawyers representing the two, said they still have not been told what roles their clients allegedly played in the killing.
"The family of my client is very upset and shocked by his arrest," said Barnes, who was with one of the teens when he turned himself in to police Sunday. "Wouldn't you be in shock if your child was arrested?"
Barnes said the boy's family is praying for him and has sent condolences to the Manners family.
Police said that since they began investigating the shooting, they have recovered a number of weapons, although they wouldn't specify where or how many.
Raybould said the break in the case came from people in the school community. He urged more witnesses to come forward to help strengthen what police say is a complex case.
"We always need more assistance," Raybould said.
Weekend raids
One of the accused was arrested at the home of a friend during a series of police raids early Sunday morning.
Jordan Manners, who died on May 23 of a gunshot wound to the chest, was shot in the hallway of his high school.
(CBC)
Those in the house were still sleeping when police entered.
"We just jumped off the bed. … Everybody was real frightened," the friend's mother told CBC News.
The other 17-year-old turned himself in to police later in the day at 31 Division after his name and photograph were made public for several hours after police obtained judicial authorization.
The two accused cannot be identified because of provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Police arrested three others during the raids but later released them.
Students resume classes
Early Monday morning, custodial staff changed the letters on the outdoor sign to read "Welcome back to school" — a reminder that the day marked the first time the school's 850 students had returned for classes since last Wednesday's shooting.
But not all students wanted to return. One girl said she dreaded going to her locker on the second floor — close to where Manners was found bleeding.
"It's scary, I guess, because kids are killing other kids nowadays," said another student, Kesavan Nadarasan, 14, who had known Manners since kindergarten.
Grief counsellors continued to be on hand and two special assemblies were scheduled for Monday to talk with students about the shooting, and about safety measures.
"C.W. Jefferys has always been a very safe, warm and caring school …. We're going to reiterate that fact to the students," said the area's school board trustee, Stephnie Payne.
With files from the Canadian Press
Two 17-year-old men have been arrested and charged with first degree murder over the shooting last week of Jordan Manners, a 15-year-old student at the C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute. He was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest.

They cannot be named due to limitations in the Youth Criminal Justice Act. One was arrested in a raid early on Sunday morning, the other handed himself in later the same day. Three others, two men and a woman, were also arrested in raids but released without charge.

Toronto police Staff Insp. Brian Raybould stated at a press conference Monday that the two accused knew Manners and "probably were friends" with him. He also stated that a motive is yet to be established, but the attack was not gang-related. He also said that although there had clearly been only one shooter, both men had been charged with first degree murder. Crown prosecutors announced that they will seek full length sentences for the two, as opposed to restricted sentences reserved for minors.

Lawyers for the two accused have said that they have not been told exactly what the allegations against their clients are beyond the simple fact that they were involved in the shooting. The lawyers also said that the families were "shocked and upset" by the arrests.

Police have said that the two arrests came as a result of people within the school community coming forward with information regarding the shootings. They also urged more people to come forward to help clarify what they described as a "complex" case.