Dante Andreatta, 12, died after he was fatally wounded when caught in a hail of bullets while walking with his mom on a North York street.

Tragically, Dante Sebastian Andreatta was stolen from his family at the age of 12.

Yet, in death, he helped save the lives of nine other children.

Murdered on his way home from a store with his mom, his slaying is one of the most egregious acts in Toronto’s history.

There’s nothing that can make it right for his family. The only potential positive that could ever possibly come out of this is he helped other children.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we mourn a life that was taken too soon, but one that has not left in vain,” said family friend Margarita Segura. “Dante’s kindness and generosity will live on through nine lives that were saved because of his organ donation.”

Jahwayne Smart, 25, and Rashawn Chambers, 24, each face many charges, including first-degree murder, for their alleged roles in the shooting which took the boy’s life.

The innocent child was fatally wounded when caught in a hail of bullets while walking with his mother in the Jane St.-Finch Ave. area.

This never should have happened to a “beautiful” boy or a city tired of being outraged about the evil that not only lurks here but does so with near impunity.

Here’s yet another murdered child.

“He was the sweetest boy, and would play for hours with our children who are younger than him,” said Segura. “He was a beautiful soul and our hearts are broken.”

Two GoFundMe campaigns set up as a result of the shooting had raised about $35,000 as of Monday night.

“My nephew Dante was an innocent victim on gun violence (Nov. 7),” said Brampton resident Flavia Andreatta in a message for a GoFundMe campaign she said she put together for her brother Sebastian, the boy’s father. “Dante was my nephew only 12 years old. On Saturday, Nov. 7 he and his mother were caught in a crossfire while grocery shopping in North York. Unfortunately, after being in critical condition fighting for his life he sadly passed away four days later.”

Dante was just a terrific kid who was adored by his family.

“Dante enjoyed soccer, swimming, bike riding with his friends/cousins, loved his classmates and with his organ donation, he has given the blessings for those children/teens to carry on living life to the fullest,” said Segura.


Toronto Police said two gunmen were allegedly shooting into a car with five passengers in the parking lot of 25 Stong Crt. Rounds were errantly fired across the street — at least one of which struck the boy in the neck.

Others went into townhouse units on the other side of Jane St. A police officer performed CPR on the boy and doctors at Sick Kids Hospital worked around the clock to try to save him.

The damage was just too severe.

“May I say that your love and support has been felt during this difficult time,” said Flavia. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, please keep our family in your prayers. All proceeds will go towards funeral expenses.”

It’s pretty sick this happened in our city but it is not the first time.

If you hear a politician spouting the line about Toronto and the GTA being “safe,” feel free to share this list of murder victims who died because they had the misfortune to be standing where a gunman’s bullet happened to fly: Vivi Leimonis, Jane Creba, Chantal Dunn, Breanna Davy, Shyanne Charles, Joshua Yassay, Kesean Williams (Brampton), St. Aubyn Rodney, Tyson Bailey, Jarvis Montague, Ephraim Brown, Ariela Navarro-Fenoy, Bailey Zaveda, John O’Keefe, Lecent Ross, Naveed Shahnawaz, Dameion McFarland, Lecent Ross, Ruma Amar, Naveed Shahnawaz, Dameion McFarland, Shawn McLean, Jonathan Rodriguez Sanchez, Candice Rochelle Bobb and unborn baby Kyrie.

Now, sadly, add the name of 12-year-old Dante Sebastian Andreatta to that disturbing list.

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