Toronto cold case investigators are renewing their plea for information a decade after a targeted shooting claimed the life of an expectant mother and her unborn son.
Insp. Steve Smith, head of the Toronto Police Service’s cold case unit, stated this month that investigators are still hoping someone will come forward with the name of the perpetrator.
The 2016 Attack
The incident occurred on the evening of May 15, 2016. Candice ‘Rochelle’ Bobb, 35, and three other individuals were driving home from a basketball game.
While the group was stopped to drop off a passenger on John Garland Boulevard, near Jamestown Crescent, a gunman in another vehicle approached and sprayed their car with bullets.
Bobb, who was five months pregnant at the time, was shot while sitting in the back seat. She was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed an emergency C-section.
Bobb was pronounced dead shortly after the procedure. Her son, Kyrie, died in the hospital approximately three weeks later.
The Challenge of ‘Chasing a Ghost’
Despite the gravity of the crime, no arrests have been made in ten years. Police previously announced that the perpetrator would face murder charges for the deaths of both Bobb and Kyrie.
Insp. Smith noted that initial investigations included the review of available video evidence, but officers were unable to identify the shooter.
“A lot of times in these shootings, especially when the actual shooter isn’t seen or seen leaving in a vehicle, it’s hard to track them down,” Smith said.
Smith described the difficulty of working without a suspect’s identity as “chasing a ghost,” explaining that identifying the offender is often the catalyst that allows evidence to fall into place.
Potential Breakthroughs and Next Steps
Investigators are now exploring the use of emerging, experimental technology to move the case forward.
Police possess the shell casings from the scene and are looking into methods to garner DNA or fingerprints from those cartridges.
While Smith described the technology as “really experimental,” he indicated that police may be able to utilize these cartridges in the near future to identify someone involved in the shooting.
the Toronto Police Service will have to decide whether to renew the $50,000 reward after it expires this summer, though Smith noted that rewards have not necessarily provided the specific information needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did the shooting take place?
The shooting occurred on the evening of May 15, 2016, on John Garland Boulevard near Jamestown Crescent in Toronto.
Who were the victims of the attack?
The victims were 35-year-old Candice ‘Rochelle’ Bobb and her son, Kyrie.
What new evidence are police pursuing?
Police are looking at experimental technology to attempt to recover DNA or fingerprints from the shell casings recovered from the scene.
Do you believe emerging forensic technology is the most effective way to solve decade-old cold cases?
