London Police have laid charges against two men in connection with the tragic death of 7-year-old Dante Caranci, who was struck and killed on Longwoods Road back in December.

The collision happened on December 16, 2024, around 4 p.m. near Longwoods and Murray roads in the south end of the city. Emergency crews rushed to the scene where they found young Dante with life-threatening injuries. He was immediately transported to hospital but sadly succumbed to his injuries three days later on December 19.

After a thorough six-month investigation by the London Police Service Road Safety Section, two individuals have now been charged. Atir Gayyur Mir, 47, of Milton, faces charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death. Meanwhile, Jose Lema, 82, of London, has been charged with criminal negligence causing death.

The legal proceedings are already underway. Mir appeared in London court yesterday and is scheduled to return on August 6, 2025. Lema will make his first court appearance on July 23, 2025.

Chief Thai Truong addressed the community about the devastating incident, stating that “this tragedy has devastated a family and deeply affected our community.” He emphasized that the police investigation was both thorough and deliberate, with the force remaining committed to ensuring accountability while prioritizing road safety for all Londoners, especially children.

The investigation initially began when emergency services responded to what was described as a serious motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. All parties involved in the collision remained at the scene during the initial response. Longwoods Road was temporarily closed between Colonel Talbot and Kilbourne roads to allow investigators to process the scene.

Throughout the investigation, police repeatedly appealed to the public for assistance, particularly seeking dash-cam footage or video surveillance from the area of Longwoods Road near Murray Road between 3:45 and 4:05 p.m. on the day of the collision.

The case was reassigned to the London Police Service Traffic Management Unit, which later became the Road Safety Section, reflecting the serious nature of the investigation. Police held a press conference this morning to announce the charges, which was livestreamed on their YouTube channel.

Dante Caranci was identified as a 7-year-old London resident. The collision occurred during what would have been typical after-school hours on a Monday afternoon in a residential area of the city’s south end.