Family of slain teen cries for truth, justice

Family of slain teen cries for truth, justice

By Mari-Len De Guzman

TORONTO–The family of the 17-year-old male gunned down by police officer has appealed to witnesses to come forward in light of on-going investigations on the incident.

Jeffrey Reodica, a Grade 11 student at Jean Vanier Catholic School in Scarborough, died in hospital few days after being shot three times by a plainclothes policeman in the area of Lawrence and Brimley east of the city.

“I call on witnesses to come out. In due course, I believe people will tell the truth. My son does not deserve this kind of horrendous act by these police officers,” said the victim’s father, Willie Reodica.
Jeffrey was reportedly on his way to a friend’s birthday party accompanied by seven other friends, when two undercover policemen approached the group. They were allegedly responding to a 911 call saying two teens are being chased by a group of kids armed with bats and knives. As of this writing, no information is available as to the identity of the 911 caller or the details of the call.

Bayani Abesamis, lawyer for the Reodicas, said they are conducting their own independent investigation of what took place that fateful Friday afternoon of May 21st. This is apart from separate inquiries being done by the Special Investigations Unit and the police force.

Abesamis explained their investigation seeks to find the truth and ultimately get justice for the victim’s family. He disclosed the family is “not discounting” the possibility of a civil lawsuit.

“The SIU is conducting its own investigation. The police are conducting their own investigation. But we are not going to rely on their findings, their conclusions. We are going to get answers for ourselves.
“What is involved here are two plainclothes officers. Did they properly identify themselves? Did they follow procedures? Why was force used? Was it necessary?” said Abesamis adding the family has many questions that need to be answered.

Earlier reports stated Jeffrey, who was allegedly armed with a knife, attacked the two police officers. He was shot three times in the back.

But witnesses’ accounts, according to the victim’s mother Flora, indicate the two undercover officers did not identify themselves to Jeffrey and his friends.

“If they had told them in the beginning that they were police officers, things might have had a different outcome and my son would probably still be alive,” Flora said.

The family is claiming the whole confrontation was a “set-up”.

“We have to have justice to prevent this from happening to other kids,” Flora said.

Members of the Reodica family said the Friday incident might have resulted from a conflict day before among some teenagers over a basketball. Jeffrey was not involved in that incident but allegedly knew one of the teens.

Jeffrey, the youngest of three siblings, was pronounced dead at Sunnybrook Hospital on Victoria Day Monday. He was an active community member, served as an altar boy at St. Rose of Lima Parish, a leading member of the Catholic group Youth For Christ, a former member of the Philippine Heritage Band, and a member of the Fil-Can Basketball Team.

He worked part-time at Krispy Kreme and, according to his father, was saving up for a trip to Europe as part of a school program.

Meanwhile, Toronto Police chief Julian Fantino last week announced his support for the police officers involved in the shooting. Since the incident, the police chief had never been in contact with the Reodicas.

Speaking on behalf of the Reodicas, Abesamis appealed to Fantino to wait until all facts from the investigations are established.

“We want (Fantino) to keep an open mind on the matter,” he said.