Fifteen people have been shot and two killed in an incident in Greektown
Paramedics, firefighters and police rushed to the scene at Danforth and Pape Avenues in Toronto’s Greektown neighbourhood, which has many popular restaurants, cafes and shops, around 10pm on Sunday night after reports a shooting had taken place.
All those injured have been taken to local hospitals.
Toronto Police Chief Saunders has updated media from scene. 14 victims were shot with a handgun. 1 female adult has died. 1 young girl in critical condition. Suspect is dead (not included in 14 victim total) Witnesses call 416-808-2222 Anonymous tips 1-800-222-8477 #GO1341286 ^sm
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) July 23, 2018
Toronto police chief Mark Saunders said police had not confirmed the shooter’s motive and would not speculate on it until they had more information.
“We are looking at all possible motives … and not closing any doors,” Saunders told reporters at the site of the shooting.
Footage from the scene appears to show a man, believed to be the gunman, walking down a street before pulling out a handgun and firing into a Greektown eatery from the street.
Witness Jody Steinhauer has told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) she was at a restaurant on Danforth Avenue with her family when she heard what sounded like 10 to 15 firecracker blasts.
She said she was told to run to the back of the restaurant.
“We started to hear people scream out front,” Steinhauer said.
John Tory, the mayor of Toronto, called the attack “a despicable act”.
“On behalf of all Toronto residents, I am outraged that someone has unleashed such a terrible attack on our city and people innocently enjoying a Sunday evening,” he wrote on Twitter.
“While our city will always be resilient in the face of such attacks, it does not mean such a cowardly act committed against our residents is any less painful – this is an attack against innocent families and our entire city.”
Tory urged people not to speculate as to the motive of the attack and said he had “total confidence” in the ability of police to determine what happened.
In a press conference shortly after the shooting, John Tory told reporters that the shooting was “evidence of a gun problem” in Toronto. Police confirmed that the shooter used a handgun.
“Guns are too readily available to too many people,” he said.
Toronto is grappling with a sharp rise in gun violence this year. There have been 26 deaths from gun violence in the city so far this year, a 53% increase from the same period last year, with the number of shootings rising 13%, according to plice data.
Last week, Toronto police put roughly 200 additional officers on shift in particular neighbourhoods between the hours of 7pm and 3am – when most shootings occur – as part of a plan to reduce gun crime, the CBC reported.
Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario tweeted that his “heart goes out to the victims and loved ones of the horrific act of gun violence in Toronto”.
My heart goes out to the victims and loved ones of the horrific act of gun violence in Toronto. Thank you to all the first responders for acting quickly to help everyone affected.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) July 23, 2018
Arcade Fire, a Canadian band, were performing in Toronto on Sunday night and sent their “love to those affected” on Twitter.
We just got off stage tonight in Toronto and heard the news about the shooting on Danforth. Sending all our love to those affected.
— Arcade Fire (@arcadefire) July 23, 2018
Police are urging anyone who might have witnessed the incident or have any footage of it to get in touch with them.
