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Surge In Missing Black Youth Raises Alarm Across Greater Toronto Area

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Community members across the Greater Toronto Area are sounding the alarm over a troubling surge in missing Black teens and adults, with major cities like Toronto, Ontario, seeing a sharp rise in cases. Many are calling on officials to bring more media attention to the escalating issue.

Roots Reggae Hub host Shana McCalla and African Diaspora News Channel reporter Emma Ansah were among the first to spotlight the alarming trend of missing Black youth in December 2024. At the time of Ansah’s report, which was reposted by McCalla on Dec. 17, 2024, six young Black men, ages 15 to 25, had been reported missing across Ontario between October and December of last year.

The missing individuals were identified as Michael (15), Kimani Langley (16), Ayden (15), Trayshawn (15), Malachi (15), and Alpachino Mignott (25). Their faces were featured in a powerful reel created by McCalla, which was shared more than 2 million times on social media, gaining traction from prominent figures like civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump.

Outraged by the lack of media coverage surrounding these disappearances, McCalla launched a Change.org petition on Dec. 18, 2024, calling for urgent action to ensure the safe return of the missing boys. The petition has garnered 2,549 signatures so far, though it still falls short of its 5,000-signature goal. McCalla and her supporters demanded that law enforcement prioritize these cases and provide regular updates. They also called on media outlets to amplify the stories of the missing boys and urged for public Amber Alerts and other resources to be urgently deployed, ensuring that none of the boys’ cases were overlooked.

In a post shared on Jan. 2, McCalla claimed that some of the missing boys were found, while new cases of missing teens were also announced.

In an Instagram update shared on Jan. 2, McCalla reported that two of the missing boys had been found and safely reunited with their families. However, four are still missing, including Jamaican rugby player Alpachino Mignott, Malachi, Michael, and Ayden. The post also highlighted the continued search for other missing Black teens and introduced new names of missing youths that were reportedly located and reunited with their families. The cases that were deemed “found and safe” according to McCalla, included Nathaniel (14), Anthony (18), Kimani Langley (16), Trayshawn (15), Adoni (15), Javonte (16), and DeAndre (16).

Sadly, in addition to Malachi, Mignott, Michael, and Ayden, the list of missing youths also now includes, Samuel (17), who was last seen Dec. 27, 2024, at Yonge St & Bloor St E in Toronto, and Valentino (13), who last seen Dec. 29, 2024, at John Garland Blvd & Martin Grove Rd in Toronto. A date of disappearance was not posted for 13-year-old Kymani who was last seen at Birchmount Rd & Sheppard Ave in Toronto.

As of November 2024, Niagara police were still actively searching for Alpachino Mignott, who is now 26, according to a report by City News Everywhere published Nov. 3. Mignott, a Jamaican rugby player, was last seen on Oct. 19 at Lamport Stadium following his international rugby match. After the game, a ride-share vehicle dropped him off near the Queenston neighborhood, close to the Niagara River, around 10:45 p.m. Despite investigators checking the nearby river, reviewing local hotel footage, and speaking to the Uber driver, they have yet to find any leads.

Mignott’s mother, Meshanda Nesbeth, explained that she received a call from his girlfriend in the early hours of the morning—who lives in the United States—expressing concern because Alpachino wasn’t answering his phone, even though they had plans to meet up.

It’s unclear where Mignott’s case stands. An “RIP” message can be seen in the comments section of his last post, shared Oct. 26, 2023, but authorities have not confirmed the athlete’s death.

Meanwhile, Malachi, a 15-year-old from Toronto, went missing on Dec. 1, 2024. The Toronto Police Service is seeking public assistance in locating him, Missing People reported. Malachi was last seen at around 2:30 p.m. in the Humber College Boulevard and Lynmont Road area. He is described as 5-foot-4 with a medium build and dark brown hair styled in a short to medium afro. He was last seen wearing a salt-and-pepper hoodie (Echo brand) and grey track pants.

In 2024, missing Black youth cases skyrocketed in Toronto.

According to a City News Everywhere report shared Jan. 5, over half of the city’s missing youth were Black, with 200 cases reported last year. Of those, 110 were Black youths, and as of now, four remain unaccounted for. Inspired by McCalla’s Change.org petition, the Brampton Black Empowerment Unit convened a virtual town hall via Zoom with police representatives, dignitaries, and community leaders to address the issue. The call drew over 900 attendees, all eager to explore solutions and take action.

Before concrete solutions can be implemented, psychotherapist Marci Gray emphasized that systemic failures in mental health, criminal justice, and education are contributing to the crisis. Many of the missing youths are either running from difficult circumstances, such as mental health crises, or being manipulated by older individuals into dangerous activities like drug trafficking. The community is calling for more attention to these issues and stronger support systems for Black youth.

A town hall meeting to further discuss these concerns will be held on Jan. 16 in North York, providing an opportunity for the community to continue the conversation and push for change.

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