'Give peace a chance': Jamestown residents rally on anniversary of Lecent Ross's killing

The chorus of John Lennon's Give Peace A Chance echoed around a west-end neighbourhood where the life of a 14-year-old girl was tragically cut short exactly a year ago.

Friends and family gathered to remember 14-year-oldLecent Ross, who died after she was shot with an illegal handgun inside a home on Jamestown Crescent in the city'sRexdale neighbourhoodon July 9, 2015.Two teens face more than 25 charges combined in connection with Ross's death.

A 13-year-oldboy, who cannot benamed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act,is chargedwithmanslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm and a number of other weapons offences.An18-year-old man is also charged with criminal negligence causing death, use of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm and a number of other weapons offences,including careless storage of a firearm.

• 2 teens charged in shooting death of Toronto teenLecentRoss, 14

OnSaturday,Ross's mother, AliciaJasquith, made a brief appearance before the small groupsang,marched and demanded an end to gun violence in the city.

In a community where you have lack of resources...you really have to make an extra effort not to become a statistic.- KemionHughes, a resident in the Jane and Finch area

"This is beautiful," an emotional Jasquith told CBC News. "I'm so happy that the community came together for my daughter."

Jasquith said she'd like Rossto be remembered as "a bright, shining star."

She said it's time for the community to "put our foot down and say, 'There must be no more shootings and killings of our young black people.'"

"It hurts us too much," she said.

Rexdale resident Jason Stewart said he joined the march because he felt he "hasn't done anything for the community."

"A good friend of mine just passed away from gun violence and it triggered me to come out," he told CBC. "You see all these things happening in the world and I think everybody feels an urge to do something."

• LecentRoss shooting death: community gathers to mourn teen's death

Scott McKean, the city'smanager of Community Development, said he attended Saturday's rally to listen for ideas andsolutions toimprove community safety.

"We're hearing that young people need employment, they need to be engagedand that communities want to have a voice in decision-making," he added.

At a memorial barbecue following the march, Mayor John Tory said the city needs to find ways to address youth unemployment and gang violence.

"It's about a 14-year-old girl who's not here anymore and what the causes of that were and what the effects were." he said. "We've got to make sure that kind of stuff comes to an end. There's no place for that in Toronto."

"We have to keep coming back here for happy occasions and not to commemorate sad occasions," Tory added.

Kemion Hughes, a resident in the Jane and Finch area, was also atthe march.

"In a community where you have lack of resources, it's a challenge (to succeed)so you really have to make an extra effort not to become a statistic. Be disciplined, make sure you don't get distracted by what you see, help out in the community,"he suggested.

"When I go back to my community, everyone looks up to me and says, 'It's good to see you. You turned out to be a great person.'"

"I just keep a strong mind, a strong heart and have faith in God," Hughes said.

• LecentRoss gun death brings grief, anger to Toronto community