Toronto, Ontario — It's been a decade since a deeply loved woman was fatally shot in broad daylight in east Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood.
On August 27, 2016, at around 6:10 p.m., Peggy Ann Smith was sitting on the back porch of her daughter's home on Munro Street, near Broadview Avenue and Dundas Street East, when gunshots rang out. She was struck by a stray bullet and died at the scene. She was 61.
'Senseless act of violence'
"Ten years ago, our family's lives changed forever when our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, wife, aunt, and friend, Peggy Ann Smith, was taken from us in a senseless act of violence," Smith's family said in a written statement.
The family went on to say that their loved one, a long-time east Toronto resident who was known to many in the community as Nan and Mom, "should have spent these past ten years continuing to love and care for her family celebrating birthdays, holidays, graduations, new homes, new babies, and all the ordinary moments in between."
Smith is remembered by her heartbroken family as "one of the kindest, most loving and genuine people you could ever meet," an "incredible giving and selfless" person who would do anything for anyone and always put others before herself.
"She never waited for someone to ask for help. If she saw that someone needed something, she was there. … She had a way of making people feel welcomed, cared for and like they were never alone. No matter what was happening in your life, being around Peggy somehow made you feel like everything was going to be okay," they said.
Smith's relatives said what makes their grief even harder is knowing that those responsible for her death have never been held accountable.
"Her murder remains unsolved, and our family has had to carry that unanswered pain for an entire decade. It's difficult to live with the fact that her life was cut short in the way it was. She didn't deserve to leave us this way," they said, sharing that this difficult milestone is marked with even more grief due to the recent death of Smith's long-time husband, John.
"Ten years is a long time to live with questions that have never been answered. We want answers. We want accountability. Most importantly, we want justice for Peggy."
Shortly after Smith's murder, Toronto police released images of two male suspects, who are believed to have been firing gunshots towards a residence near where she was fatally shot.
Smith's family is urging anyone who knows the person(s) responsible for the death of their loved one to "find the courage to come forward and give our family the answers we have been waiting for 10 years."
Toronto police still investigating tips
Det. Sgt. Steve Smith, of Toronto police's Cold Case Unit, said Peggy Ann Smith's murder is one of the city's most "horrific" homicide cases, compounded further by the fact that her killer has never been found.
"(Peggy's murder) really hits at the heart," he said, adding her murder would have likely been solved had it occurred today due to the prevalence of video footage and other technological advancements that are now available.
Nonetheless, the detective sergeant said they remain hopeful that there will be a break in this case, that someone with information may have had a "change in circumstance" in their life and will decide that now is the time to come forward.
Peggy Ann Smith's murder is one of around 800 unsolved homicides in Toronto that the squad is investigating, said Det. Sgt. Steve Smith, who urged anyone with information about any cold case to contact the authorities.
Anonymous tips are also welcome, Smith added, noting informants won't need to appear in court.
