‘I want my baby’: March to remember teenager stabbed outside school

Family, friends and supporters of the Montreal teenager who was stabbed to death outside his school marched to honour his memory on Saturday.

Sixteen-year-old Jannai Dopwell-Bailey was stabbed to death in October outside Programme Mile End high school in Cote-des-Neiges, in Montreal’s west end.

Montreal police arrested and charged two people with second-degree murder in connection to his death. A funeral was held Nov. 19.

Dopwell-Bailey’s loved ones marched Saturday to raise awareness about issues faced by Montreal’s racialized youth, and demand more action and funding.

“I miss seeing his beautiful nice loving face,” said Charla Dopwell, the boy’s mother. “I miss him, hugging and kissing me. I’m not going to get home to (him) hugging me and saying, ‘mommy, mommy.’ I miss all of that.

“You could give me three million, billion dollars. I will say take your money. I want my Jannai. I want my baby.

“He loved life. He wanted to do so many things. He said, ‘mom I’m going to take you out of Cote-des-Neiges.’”

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• Vigil for 16-year-old Montrealer Jannai Dopwell-Bailey

On Oct. 18, police say there was a fight outside of the school, and Dopwell-Bailey was stabbed in the upper body. He was rushed to hospital, where he later died. His death was the city’s 25th homicide of the year.

“Jannai was a very loving child who unfortunately something happened to him that unfortunately he really didn’t deserve,” said his brother Tyrese Dopwell-Bailey.

“I think I feel robbed because he was 16, so I didn’t get to see him grow and evolve into an adult.”

Added Naomi Bien-Amé, Dopwell-Bailey’s girlfriend: “It shouldn’t be that we’re all walking for him. He should still be alive right now. … He was just an innocent teenager. He had a life. He had family and friends.”

The mayor of Cote-des-Neiges–NDG vowed to reach out to community groups to help youth in the borough.

“I was thinking what if I died at 16 years old, I could never have become the first Black mayor of this borough,” said Gracia Kasoki Katahwa.

Added Onica John, Jannai Dopwell-Bailey’s cousin: “To implement programs for the young ones, so we don’t have to witness stuff like this happening.”

Dopwell-Bailey’s mother recently met with Mayor Valerie Plante, asking her to push for justice for her son. Police continue the investigation to identify a third person suspected of being involved in the murder.

“I don’t know if one day they’re somewhere looking for them, and waiting to do something to them. They have to get them,” said Charla Dopwell.