Former NCAA basketball player charged in fatal shooting of mom of four
By Maryam Shah ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Sunday, April 13, 2014 09:34 AM EDT | Updated: Sunday, April 13, 2014 07:41 PM EDT
TORONTO - A former NCAA basketball player is one of two young men charged with first-degree murder in the drive-by shooting of a mother of four.
Andrea White, 33, was with her family and friends Saturday night in the garage of her Grace Hartman Housing Co-operative home — near Morningside and Old Finch Aves. — when she was shot, police said Sunday.
Her loved ones had to carry her inside, where she collapsed and died shortly after.
Former college basketball player Alwayne Bigby, 23, faces charges along with Michael Davani, 21.
According to Toronto Police, White was shot around 11 p.m. after a white Land Rover drove past her home and a firearm was discharged from the passenger side.
Det. Dave ****inson said multiple gunshots were fired.
Calls to 911 led Ontario Provincial Police officers to pursue a suspect vehicle, he said.
OPP attempted to stop the SUV at Hwy. 401 and Avenue Rd. but the driver refused and headed northbound on Bathurst St., police said.
The two occupants then fled on foot.
Davani was arrested nearby a short time later. Bigby turned himself in around 5:30 a.m. Sunday, police say.
A firearm was also found in the 401-Avenue Rd. area, according to police.
****inson said White was not known to police and had no criminal record.
“We believe the address was targeted but I don’t have a motive for the shooting,” he said.
Bigby captained Toronto’s Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute high school team for three seasons, winning the provincial championship in 2009. He went on to play college basketball at Northeastern University and at the University of Rhode Island.
He was also once a member of Canada’s junior national team.
Bigby and Davani are scheduled to appear Monday in court at 1911 Eglinton Ave. E.
Neighbours and friends who knew White and her common-law husband said they were shocked at the brazen shooting.
“She’s not the kind of person with problems or beef or anything,” friend Melvin, 36, said, calling her a “loving” person who was involved in her community.
“I wonder why it had to happen to her, why didn’t the bullet go somewhere else?” Melvin said as he stood outside her home.
The father of White’s four children — the youngest about age four or five and the oldest a teenager — was “really hurt” by the sudden loss of his wife, Melvin said.
“The kind of person that I know she is, I don’t think it was meant for her,” he added.
As children continued to bike and play basketball outdoors, residents of the complex spent most of Sunday watching in silence as officers probed the scene and knocked on doors.
A single father to two sons, John-Mark Boivin cut his vacation short when his children texted him Saturday night that shots had been fired a few doors away from their own home.
The 53-year-old said he loves the “tight-knit” nature of his neighbourhood but has concluded it’s time to move on.
“I’m outta here, absolutely,” he said. “This neighbourhood here, I don’t know why they say it’s safe. It’s not.”
Others blamed outsiders for creating trouble.
One resident in his 40s — who did not want to be identified — said it is “not like an unsafe community.”
“Everything that happened in here over the years, it was always people who come into the area from outside,” he stressed.
Police say anyone with information should call the homicide squad at 416-808-7400.
Former NCAA basketball player charged in fatal shooting of mom of four | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun
By Maryam Shah ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Sunday, April 13, 2014 09:34 AM EDT | Updated: Sunday, April 13, 2014 07:41 PM EDT
TORONTO - A former NCAA basketball player is one of two young men charged with first-degree murder in the drive-by shooting of a mother of four.
Andrea White, 33, was with her family and friends Saturday night in the garage of her Grace Hartman Housing Co-operative home — near Morningside and Old Finch Aves. — when she was shot, police said Sunday.
Her loved ones had to carry her inside, where she collapsed and died shortly after.
Former college basketball player Alwayne Bigby, 23, faces charges along with Michael Davani, 21.
According to Toronto Police, White was shot around 11 p.m. after a white Land Rover drove past her home and a firearm was discharged from the passenger side.
Det. Dave ****inson said multiple gunshots were fired.
Calls to 911 led Ontario Provincial Police officers to pursue a suspect vehicle, he said.
OPP attempted to stop the SUV at Hwy. 401 and Avenue Rd. but the driver refused and headed northbound on Bathurst St., police said.
The two occupants then fled on foot.
Davani was arrested nearby a short time later. Bigby turned himself in around 5:30 a.m. Sunday, police say.
A firearm was also found in the 401-Avenue Rd. area, according to police.
****inson said White was not known to police and had no criminal record.
“We believe the address was targeted but I don’t have a motive for the shooting,” he said.
Bigby captained Toronto’s Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute high school team for three seasons, winning the provincial championship in 2009. He went on to play college basketball at Northeastern University and at the University of Rhode Island.
He was also once a member of Canada’s junior national team.
Bigby and Davani are scheduled to appear Monday in court at 1911 Eglinton Ave. E.
Neighbours and friends who knew White and her common-law husband said they were shocked at the brazen shooting.
“She’s not the kind of person with problems or beef or anything,” friend Melvin, 36, said, calling her a “loving” person who was involved in her community.
“I wonder why it had to happen to her, why didn’t the bullet go somewhere else?” Melvin said as he stood outside her home.
The father of White’s four children — the youngest about age four or five and the oldest a teenager — was “really hurt” by the sudden loss of his wife, Melvin said.
“The kind of person that I know she is, I don’t think it was meant for her,” he added.
As children continued to bike and play basketball outdoors, residents of the complex spent most of Sunday watching in silence as officers probed the scene and knocked on doors.
A single father to two sons, John-Mark Boivin cut his vacation short when his children texted him Saturday night that shots had been fired a few doors away from their own home.
The 53-year-old said he loves the “tight-knit” nature of his neighbourhood but has concluded it’s time to move on.
“I’m outta here, absolutely,” he said. “This neighbourhood here, I don’t know why they say it’s safe. It’s not.”
Others blamed outsiders for creating trouble.
One resident in his 40s — who did not want to be identified — said it is “not like an unsafe community.”
“Everything that happened in here over the years, it was always people who come into the area from outside,” he stressed.
Police say anyone with information should call the homicide squad at 416-808-7400.
Former NCAA basketball player charged in fatal shooting of mom of four | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun
