Family of teen stabbed outside Montreal school remembers him one year later

Almost one year has passed since the death of 16-year-old Montrealer Jannai Dopwell-Bailey.

“It still feels like the same year, the same month, like we got stuck in that time frame,” says his cousin, Onica John.

The teen was fatally stabbed outside his Côte-des-Neiges high school on October 18, 2021. He went inside for help and later died in hospital.

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

“With Jannai’s death, as a mother, I have a son also and the way in which Jannai passed is something that as a parent, it will eat at you for the rest of your life,” said John.

His family says they still haven’t been able to move forward get Jannai the justice he deserves.

For Jannai’s parents, his closest siblings, I don’t think they’re ever going to adapt, adjust to him not being there,” said John. “It’s a very close knit family, they did everything together: birthdays, Christmas, picnics. Nothing is ever going to be the same because he’s not in the group anymore.

Jannai Dopwell-Bailey. (Credit: Onica John)

The family is still trying to make sense of what happened on that day in October.

“When you play it out over in your mind repeatedly, it’s like, why?” asked John.

Two suspects were charged with second degree murder, one of them is a minor.

“What would bring us peace is if they are tried as adults and at least would know you have the time charge on you for the crime that you did,” said John. “This can happen again, and it did happen again, right after Jannai, outside of a school.”

John wants to see more done to fortify school grounds and implement programs for students to keep them engaged.

“Come into the community to find out what is wrong also with the schools, to put certain things in place,” she said. “It might sound harsh, but we are in a time now when kids get upset, they do cruel things at school.”

Onica John is Jannai Dopwell-Bailey’s cousin. (Credit: CityNews / Alyssia Rubertucci)

On Thursday, the Plante administration announced $30 million of financing directed toward violence prevention, equity and safety for Montreal with a greater focus on youth safety.

Jannai’s family hopes Mayor Plante makes it to his memorial set for Oct. 18 outside the school at 3 p.m.

“She can speak to the kids directly to also to let them know that things would be implemented,” John said.

RELATED: Montreal forum aims to combat youth violence

Until then, the family hopes to heal and hold onto the memories of who Jannai was.

“He was loved in his community,” said John. “He was a very active kid, very humble kid, very respectful kid, so he will always be missed.”