These graduates lost their friend to gun violence. Now they're making sure he's never forgotten

CBC

3 hours ago

A Toronto teen whose life was cut short by gun violence was remembered in a valedictorian speech at the school where he should have graduated on Thursday.
Mohamed Doumbouya, who died at the age of 16, would have been in Grade 12 this year. But instead of marking a milestone at his Parkdale high school this week, he was gunned down inside an apartment unit in the area of King Street W. and Jameson Avenue on July 8, 2024.
Two teen boys, 16 and 17 at the time, have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in his death.
Since his death, Mohamed's friends have dedicated themselves to advocating against gun violence and honouring his memory.
"Mohamed was more than a friend," said Grade 12 student Brian Ehigiator in his valedictorian speech at Parkdale Collegiate Institute on Thursday. Ehigiator said he'd known Mohamed since childhood.
"He was a bright, kind and playful presence who left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him. This school year has been really difficult without being able to see him in the halls... There's been an emptiness, a silence where laughter used to be.
"But even though he is not physically here, his presence is still felt in every corner of this building."
Ehigiator said Mohamed's friends have made sure that "his story, his life continues to matter."
Students organize to honour Mohamed's memory
In an interview with CBC Radio's Metro Morning, Ehigiator said of his friend: "He really knew how to lighten a room. Even during serious situations, he was always funny, which I guess I loved about him the most."
Tania Camuti, principal of the school, said that after Mohamed's death, a group of 14 students applied for funding from the city's Community Crisis Response Program through its fund for youth initiatives in order to honour him. The fund provides one-time financial assistance to support communities affected by traumatic incidents and community violence.
Camuti said the students put together a number of initiatives using the funding.
They organized a group called Project MD that does anti-gun violence advocacy at the school. They also organized a play day for his elementary school in Parkdale, Dr Rita Cox — Kina Minagok Public School. And they organized to have the field at the school renamed in his honour.
They also arranged for a plaque and rock on the field dedicated to Mohamed, facing the apartment building where he lived.
On top of that, they put together a display case, commissioned art and brought a guest speaker to the school to talk to students about youth and gun violence.
"What I've seen is a group of Grade 12s come together in tragedy to ensure that Mohamed's memory is not how he died but who he was," Camuti said.
Camuti said she heard about the shooting death on the news, had a gut feeling and wondered: "'Was that one of ours?' And unfortunately, about a day later it was confirmed that that was a Parkdale student."
'A person who lit up the room'
Cole Leason, a Grade 12 student, said Mohammed could make a person smile if they were having a bad day.
"He was a close friend to all of us. He was really just a person who lit up the room. He was the life of the party," he said. "He was really a big part of our group and just a big part of what it meant to be at Parkdale. Losing him was a big loss."
2 teens charged in fatal shooting of teen in Parkdale
Police ID boy, 16, shot dead in Parkdale apartment
Leason said the students wanted to not only to honour Mohamed but also to push back against gun violence.
"We want to show that this tragedy doesn't represent who Parkdale is, who Mohamed was, what his life meant and what it was on track for. It's really to show that our community won't let violence take control and have a shackle on us."
Ethan Rebelo, another Grade 12 student, also called Mohamed a friend.
"Within our friend group, he was like our core of our friend group and really made everybody, just in the school that knew him, very happy. He was a very genuine guy."
For Ehigiator, his friend's death has taught him an important lesson.