2 charged were probably friends of slain Toronto teen: police

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.

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, reputedto have ahigh crime rate.

The two 17-year-old boys who were charged in the slaying knew Manners and "probably werefriends" 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 appearanceon June 4 via video link to avoid the media.

Family of accused shocked by arrest

Alana Barnes and Laurie Galway, the lawyers representingthe two, said theystill have not been told what roles their clients allegedly played inthe 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.

Those in the house were still sleeping when police entered.

"We justjumped off thebed. … 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 afterhis name and photograph weremade 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 arrestedthree others during the raids butlater 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 scheduledfor Mondayto 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.