Man shot dead near Weston Rd. a victim of street violence he abhorred - Toronto Star

Leonard Charles Fullerton's death is not one his friends and family could have scripted.

For most of his life he tried to help his community and to prevent young people from falling into criminal activity.

He died Tuesday, age 26, a victim of the street violence he abhorred.

Fullerton was gunned down at about 4:20 p.m. in his Mount Dennis neighbourhood near Weston Rd. and Eglinton Ave. W. It marks the 47th homicide in Toronto this year.

He leaves behind two young children, a boy, 2, and a girl, 7, along with a tight-knit family who can't comprehend who would do this to someone so well-liked in the neighbourhood.

Police said shortly before 4:20 p.m. Fullerton got into an argument with another man. Moments later, shots were fired, striking and killing Fullerton. According to police, the suspect fled in a silver four-door vehicle.

The day had begun like any other: Just after noon, Fullerton said goodbye to his parents and left the home they shared to go to a nearby gym to fit in his customary few laps in the pool.

He loved being physically fit: He was a talented dancer and basketball player who also loved the water.

But he also used his sporting talents to give back to his community. For five years up until 2010, Fullerton ran a dance troupe and basketball team for at-risk youth through a non-profit agency called the For Youth Initiative.

He was planning to take courses to become a car insurance salesman when his young life ended abruptly.

"I don't know what happened … He was very hard working and responsible, he was very supportive of his two kids. We couldn't expect better from him. He always tried. And now we're faced with a tragic loss," his father Leaford Fullerton said.

Not one to get in trouble, his family has no clue as to what might have motivated the shooting.

"He was a community worker in the area … So obviously if he's working in the community and working with at-risk youth, he's going to come into contact with people with a lot of issues," said Selwyn Pieters, a lawyer who at one time represented Fullerton when he was arrested in a major gang sweep that covered the Weston Rd. area.

Codenamed Project Corral, almost 1,000 police officers were involved in executing more than 100 search warrants that saw drugs and guns seized and more than 70 people arrested — most of them young men — for allegedly having ties to the Five Points Generals (5PG) and Falstaff Crips gangs.

Fullerton had no criminal record prior to his arrest, Pieters said.

The defence submitted a single piece of evidence they thought spoke volumes about his character: A photo that shows former Mayor David Miller flanked by Fullerton and his co-workers in their For Youth Initiative work polos. They submitted it to show that he was a positive force in the community.

"They were alleging he was a gang member," Pieters said. "I just want to say, he was never involved in any gang activities and he was never involved in any drug activities."

The criminal organization charges were later dropped.

Fullerton lived in the community for most of his life. His parents, originally from Jamaica, settled in the area 22 years ago. Devoutly religious, they instilled in him the importance of giving back to the community.

"If he was alive today he would say this is outrageous, this is crazy," said his father. "It is very crazy to think that here you are walking down the street and somebody might attack you. But it's not simply an attack, it's a murder. In broad daylight."

With files from Betsy Powell