FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mother appeals for son’s friends to “please say something” on first anniversary of murder
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
For Immediate Release
TORONTO — The following statement has been released by Adrienne Naraine, the mother of Amir Naraine, who was murdered one year ago:
“I will be spending much of today in the northwest Toronto plaza where my Amir was found in the back of his car, shot and left to die, one year ago. I go there often, usually a couple times a week, and sit in the parking spot with Amir’s favourite drink. We talk, me and Amir, and I feel closer to him. I tell him that he didn’t die alone, that I was always with him.
One year after Amir was killed, it feels like I need to wake up from this horrible, horrible dream that I’ve been having. It’s weird to say, but many times, I feel like he’s still here with us, like he just ran to the store. Amir was too big of a force to be taken from us like this. He was the guy you wanted everywhere with you. He was the one that brought all the laughter, all the smiles, all the goofy moments. He was caring and he was loving and he wanted to make me a grandmother so badly, often saying, ‘Mom, give me another year, give me another year.’ Amir was so amazing and continues to be so amazing because the strength he carried in life has carried me through the last year. So many times I’ve broke, and so many times he’s brought me back. He would always say, ‘Mom, you’ve been through so much, you’ve come through so much, and you’re going to continue being the strong mom you’ve always been.’ I can still hear him. I can still feel him.
Before Amir was killed, he had started a job plastering posters in the subway tunnels. If he was still alive, I’m sure he’d be running his own crew with the company, and maybe he’d be taking those courses we talked about so he could get into the zoology program he wanted to pursue. Amir was 21. He had so much to live for. It drives me insane knowing that the person who killed Amir is out there eating, walking, breathing, hanging with his family, carrying out his daily activities. It’s not fair.
Amir meant the world to me, his stepfather, his brothers and sisters, and we all miss him terribly. But he also meant the world to so many others. He had many friends who he cared for deeply, who he considered his brothers. I’m appealing to those friends today, the ones who know what happened: Please come forward. Please say something and let Amir go peacefully. I know you must be scared. And I want you to know that I’m working on forgiving you. But I need you to help me by helping this case move forward. Think of all the good that came from your relationship with Amir. Now is the time to give some of that good back. Go to police. Call Crime Stoppers anonymously. Please.”
Adrienne Naraine requests that members of the media use the attached photos of Amir Naraine. More photos, as well as a video of Amir a week before his homicide, can be found on the Pickup Communications YouTube channel. While members of the media are welcome to attend the homicide scene at 2700 Kipling Avenue throughout the day, Adrienne Naraine wishes to refrain from on-camera interviews.
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Pickup Communications is a public relations firm that specializes in supporting victims and survivors of traumatic events. It was founded by former journalist Tamara Cherry, who reported on crime for CTV News Toronto, the Toronto Sun and Toronto Star. Follow @PickupComms on Twitter.