‘MY CHILD WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN’
Riley Driver-Martin, 14, described as a ‘cool kid’ who stood up for others Hundreds gathered at Clarkson Community Centre Monday to remember Riley Driver-Martin. A GoFundMe page has been started to raise funds for Riley DriverMartin’s family.
As boys learned the basics of dribbling a basketball in the Clarkson Community Centre while others skated in the rink nearby, hundreds of people converged outside the facility Monday night to remember a Mississauga teen whose life was cut short before he could realize his dream of becoming a boxer.
Riley Driver-Martin was memorialized as the “cool kid” who “stood up for the little guy” by his peers, relatives and wellwishers who flocked to a sombre candlelight vigil held to celebrate his life.
“He generally cared for everyone around him,” one friend said of Riley, who loved fishing and staging a barbecue, as those gathered took turns sharing memories of the young homicide victim and the mark he left on their lives. “Something like this should never have happened to someone like him.”
Many placed flowers at the site of a growing memorial in honour of the 14-year-old boy, whose lifeless body was found Friday morning in Meadow Park, near Southdown Rd. and Truscott Dr., not far from his home.
Many of those in attendance sobbed, while others sought comfort by exchanging hugs.
“At the end of the day, I go home and I have no more boy,” said Riley’s father, C.J Martin. “I hope that justice is served. My child will not be forgotten.”
He thanked his friends and neighbours for what he called an “absolutely amazing” outpouring of support.
“This is what a community is supposed to do when a tragedy like this happens to people in the community,” he told the Star just after speaking to the crowd about his boy.
Mark Mahabir and his brother Nicholas Mahabir, both 20 and from Mississauga, have been arrested on charges of seconddegree murder. Martin said the tragedy robbed his son of his chance to enjoy the sport he loved.
“My son wanted to be a boxer and I actually put him in boxing,” Martin said.
For many relatives, questions about what triggered Riley’s untimely death still linger.
“What did he do so wrong for you to take his life?” said his uncle, Joseph Medley.
The memorial was attended by Mayor Bonnie Crombie and several school board trustees.
“All that knew Riley said he was a charming and polite young man with a heart of gold,” Tierra Santa wrote in a GoFundMe post raising money for the family, adding that Riley leaves his mother, a younger brother and lots of friends and family who cared for him.