by, Roshan Singh

The mother of the 16-year-old went to the station and sat on the bench where her son was fatally stabbed.

A candlelight march was organized by the family and classmates of Gabriel, who died in an unprovoked attack on Keele Station. Family and friends shared their memories with Gabriel in the vigil. Many strangers also showed up at High Park where the candlelight march was organized and walked towards Keele station.

People were holding candles in their hands and tears in their eyes. Despite of cold weather and chilling wind hundreds of people gather at the park and walked towards Keele station.

After arriving at the Keele Station the mother Andrea Magalhaes sat on the bench beside Gabriel’s friend who was present at the time of the attack. Gabriel’s friends explained Andrea what happened that day sitting on the bench.

Angela Shintani-Sandrowicz, who tried to give him CPR also joined the candlelight march, she said, “I was only able to keep him alive for 10 minutes”, pointing towards the spot where she tried the CPR.

“it was so sudden, right like it was attacked it wasn’t he was sick or anything it was like very bad”. Says Daniel Bezarra goes to the same school as Gabriel.

At the station flowers and letters are kept outside in memories of Gabriel from friends and family while some are from strangers.

The Attack

Gabriel Magalhaes was going back home after spending some time with his friends at Eaton Center. While he was with his friends at the subway station a man came with a knife and stabbed Gabriel three times in his heart.

Shintani-Sandrowicz tried to give him CPR, soon he was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police arrested a 22-year-old Jordan O’Brien-Tobin man and charged him with first-degree murder for the attack. On March 10 an Ontario judge sentenced O’Brien to two years of prohibition for sexual assault in October of 2021. O’Brien was released a few weeks ago.

According to the police Gabriel was sitting on the lower level of the station when the suspect approached him. He stabbed Gabriel without provocation.

Increasing subway attacks

There has been a 60% increase in violent incidents on the TTC since 2019, according to a report from The Commission’s CEO. A report from Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) CEO Rick Leary says, there has been 46 per cent increase in offences against customers recorded in 2021 (734) and a 60 per cent increase in incidents reported in 2019 (666).

A survey from Nanons done in early February says, 71 per cent of Ontarians currently feel less safe using public transportation than they did a year ago.

TTC said it trying to increase numbers of security personals in 2023, it is planning to spend up to $15 million reserve fund, if needed, to increase its security measures.