Junior William Appiah

Junior William Appiah was a funny and kind-hearted young man who loved to make people laugh. His older brother, Prince Benard Appiah, remembers the close bond they shared, growing up together in Toronto's Jane and Finch neighborhood. They would play soccer and video games, listen to music, and just hang out. Junior, the second of four siblings, was known for his caring nature; his brother recalled that he would "go high and low" for the people he cared about. Though the family had moved to Brampton less than a year before his death, 18-year-old Junior and his siblings still maintained their social lives in their old neighborhood.

On the afternoon of September 16, 2008, the life of the vibrant young man was cut short in a burst of gunfire. Just after 5 p.m., Junior was shot and killed on an outdoor basketball court at the foot of a residential building at 4400 Jane Street. The attack happened in broad daylight at a popular community spot. His brother Prince, then 20, had just finished a successful job interview and was on a bus when his phone began to ring with rumors that Junior had been shot. He watched the news later that day and saw his brother's yearbook photo flash across the screen, confirming the devastating truth. That night, he and his mother had to identify Junior's body.

The Toronto Police Service responded to the scene, and the investigation revealed that three suspects were involved in the shooting. Security cameras captured the trio fleeing, and crucially, one of the suspects did not have his face covered. Despite the existence of this footage and the likelihood of witnesses being in the area at the time, Junior's killers have never been identified. His brother believes that the "no snitching" culture prevalent in the neighborhood at the time may have prevented people from coming forward with information. While he doesn't think Junior was involved in gangs, he speculates that his brother might have been targeted as a message to others he was associated with.

For years, the Appiah family has lived with the pain of not knowing who killed Junior or why. His mother found it difficult to even enter his bedroom for five years after his death, and only packed up his belongings when the family moved. Prince Appiah has been a relentless advocate for his brother, determined to keep his memory alive and push for a break in the case. On the 10th anniversary of the murder, under his artist name Prince Young, he released a 36-minute documentary on YouTube, hoping to spark new leads and encourage someone with knowledge of the crime to speak up. "We’re living now, but it’s so hard to know that someone kills your sibling and you don’t know who it is," he said.

The investigation into Junior William Appiah's homicide is now in the hands of the Toronto Police Service's cold case unit. As of November 2020, Detective Constable Jeff Weatherbee confirmed that the case remains open and active. He stated that the last tip had been received about four years prior but urged the public to continue to come forward with any information, no matter how small. "We always believe someone knows what happened," Weatherbee said. "Any tip is, even if it’s small, it may be small to someone, but it could be the last thing that we need to solve a case." Police emphasize that with advancements in technology, old evidence can be re-examined, and cases that have been cold for years can be solved.

The Appiah family continues to hope for justice. They have been sustained by the love and support of their friends and community, many of whom were shocked that something so violent could happen to the funny, caring young man they knew. His brother Prince remains unwavering in his quest for answers, never giving up hope that his brother's killers will one day be found. The case remains unsolved, and police encourage anyone with information to contact the Toronto Police Service or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.