Four-year-old Shaquan Cadougan was happily playing outside his north Toronto home two weeks ago, when a series of bullets were fired from a passing vehicle in a drive-by shooting.

Shaquan was hit four times and badly wounded. Three other bystanders were also injured.

Now, the boy's mother is speaking out, saying it's time that the justice system get tougher on those involved in shootings.

Suzette Cadougan told Canada AM Thursday it's been a very tough month for her and her family.

"Everybody's still shaken. My whole family is surprised, terrified that these things happen," she told Beverly Thompson, wiping away tears.

"Something like this is really terrifying, really troubling. I'm talking to you, but my inside is like a thunder. Every day, I cry. Every day. If I'm talking to somebody, I'm fine. But once I'm by myself, I'm crying. It's really hard," she said.

Cadougan says she will never forget the moment she heard the gunshots and realized her son was outside.

"While I was going to get him, I said: where is Shaquan? And I saw him lying on the [ground] and his foot was bleeding, and I grabbed him, wrapped him into my clothes and start screaming. He was just looking at me, like shaking his head."

Shaquan had been shot twice in the foot, once in the calf and once through the bladder; one of the bullets remains lodged in his abdomen. Two weeks later, Cadougan says her son is recovering well at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children and should be able to start walking soon with the help of rehab therapists.

"Yesterday, I was trying to help him walk. And he asked me, 'You want to see me walk?' I said yes. He said, 'Are you going to cry?' I said, 'No, I just want to be happy to see you walk," she recounted as her son smiled brightly beside her from his wheelchair.

Cadougan calls the incident a "wake-up call" for parents and says they need to rally for stiffer sentences for those involved in such crimes.

"What the government has to do right now is to bring tougher penalties. Because it's hard to know that someone can take your child's life and go to jail and come out and still be walking on the street. They are going to commit more crimes.

"I'm a hard-working mom. I take care of my kids. I am trying to bring my kids up in the right way, try to keep from the police. And now look what happened to my son in a minute."

Police have made four arrests in the shooting, including a 17-year-old. One of the men arrested faces 63 charges, including eight counts of attempted murder.

But even with the culprits behind bars, Cadougan says she doesn't feel safe about returning to her neighbourhood.

"I'm still nervous. I tried to go there today and I couldn't go in the house, because I'm always looking that somebody is there."

A trust fund has been established for Shaquan at TD Canada Trust. The account number is: 6259269 and the transit number is: 1760.
Effective Friday, Aug. 19, those wishing to make a contribution may contact any TD Canada Trust branch.