Community rallies behind boy injured in attack in Brampton
A 5-year-old Brampton boy who was critically injured in a vicious attack on Thursday is receiving an outpouring of support through an online fundraiser. The GoFundMe page was started by Mississauga realtor Linda Pinizzotto and her husband, Derrick Thomas.
“I can’t believe how many people have sent messages,” Pinizzotto said on Saturday, noting some have left good wishes even if they can’t donate. “The prayers and love and support … every time I read them I get goosebumps.” She and her husband are trying to raise $5,000 to help cover any medical costs not funded by the province, such as psychological counselling, to aid the boy’s recovery.
“This situation is just awful — a5-year-old child clinging to life and having this kind of pain is just so ridiculously sad,” Pinizzotto said. “We want money not to be an object for him.”
The boy was reported missing by his mother from their home on McHardy Court 6 a.m. Thursday. Police used tracker dogs and located the child, who had critical head injuries, an hour later near train tracks behind the townhouse complex.
A relative of the child, who wished to remain anonymous, saw him a month ago at a family function and said he was running around dressed as a superhero and playing with other kids his age.
“He’s just so flamboyant and he’s just so lovable and he’s so gorgeous,” she said. “He’s a superhero.” Dyon Smart, 28, of Brampton, said to be a former boyfriend of the child’s mother, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, failure to comply with recognizance and breach of probation order. He appeared in court briefly Thursday and is set to appear for a bail hearing on Wednesday. When the incident occurred, Smart was out on bail. He had been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault after a 44-year-old man was stabbed during a dispute last year, police told the Brampton Guardian.
The young boy was transported to a Brampton hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later transferred to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, where he was listed in stable but critical condition. Peel Regional Police said Saturday that his condition hadn’t changed.