Jordan and Kiara are both two years old and the victims of Toronto’s eighth and ninth murders of 2016 were their dads — both gunned down in Chinatown over the weekend.
Quinn Taylor was shot to death early Sunday at age 29. David “Mikey” Eminess was murdered by the same gun at the age of 26.
Their cold-blooded killer’s name was not yet known as of late Monday.
He was last seen fleeing Spadina Ave. at Nassau St. at 3:16 a.m. Sunday after killing the two men and shooting three others, who are recovering from their wounds.
The killer may have eluded justice so far, but he sure left a horrible mess behind.
“I feel empty inside,” said Isabelle, David Eminess’s wife of two years. “I am so devastated. (He) was a good husband, a good father, a good provider and a good man.”
She sobbed uncontrollably as her mom, Clarissa Layne, and dad, Wecom Promesse, attempted to console her at a candlelight vigil in front of the New Ho King restaurant — just steps from the murder scene.
“I don’t know how I can go on,” the widow said as she held her now fatherless daughter.
Wecom said: “The whole thing is senseless since — from everything I know — Mikey worked hard doing odd jobs and was not involved in any gang life.”
He said his son-in-law had gone out for a “drink” and “had dropped by to have some Chinese food and bring some home for us to eat.”
Police have yet to reveal any theories on why Eminess and Taylor were felled in this horrible crime or if they knew each other.
“Some sort of altercation occurred that prompted the shooting but we’re still early in the investigation,” Toronto Police Det. Mike Carbone said, adding the possibility that the killings are gang-related is “something we will explore.”
Earlier at this same spot, Quinn Taylor’s mother, Brenda MacIntyre, said she never saw any evidence her son was involved in anything untoward.
“He was a talented producer and artist,” she said. “He was too busy with his music to be tied up with gangs.”
His sister, Kaillin MacIntyre, added: “It’s not like Quinn to say anything to anybody or cause trouble.”
Both were thinking of little Jordan as they looked at the candles and posters set up at the scene of the shootings.
“She will now grow up without a father and he was a good one,” said Brenda. “This is so sad.”
What is also sad is how many shootings there have been in 2016 and also in 2015.
Many are unsolved, which means the killers are free. It’s not a blip but a trend. Shooting homicides are up 300% over this time last year.
We need fresh approaches. A funded reward tip line and a full witness protection program should be adopted as a pilot project.
TPA president Mike McCormack rightfully suggested statistics be published on the number of unintended victims struck.
Instead of leaders falling back on the “it’s a safe city” talking point, we need to face up to this carnage and its collateral damage.
When someone like Mayor John Tory says this kind of bloodshed is unacceptable, he should be supported by a unanimous vote of council.
When Police Chief Mark Saunders says he is working on a strategy, every neighbourhood needs to get behind him.
People should listen when someone like McCormack raises concerns that officers have issues with the policy change around carding which makes it difficult for them to “engage with the public.” And when Torontonians know something about this murder or any other, they should do the proper thing and help police catch the vermin that are ruining the city.
It’s the least we can do for the tiny toddler children of homicide victims eight and nine.
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