Two Fatalities, Four Injured in Toronto Street Festival Shooting

A shooting near a Toronto street festival resulted in two fatalities and four injuries Saturday evening, police said. The incident, initially thought to involve an active shooter, was later found to stem from an exchange of gunfire between two individuals.

Deputy Chief Frank Barredo of the Toronto Police said investigators recovered two firearms at the scene. The shooting was reported at 8:12 p.m. near the intersection of St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, where the Salsa on St. Clair festival was taking place.

No arrests had been made by the time of a late‑night news conference, though Deputy Chief Barredo confirmed that both victims were men.

Officers initially urged the public to stay clear of the area before later announcing that the scene had been secured.

Deputy Chief Barredo said, “There was some concern about an active shooter. That turned out not to be the case. However, the two gunmen involved in the shooting indiscriminately put vast numbers of people in danger.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called the incident “deeply disturbing and anger‑inducing—a reckless and irresponsible act of violence in the middle of a family‑friendly festival.”

Valerie Rodriguez, sitting outside a nearby restaurant, said people began screaming and running. “A bunch of people… told us to lay down on the floor,” she recalled. “We were scared because we didn’t know exactly what was happening.”

Festival vendor Patsy Gutierrez said she was serving customers when she saw “a huge wave” of people fleeing. “Everybody started getting frantic and then we stopped serving,” she said. She added that such violence should not be a part of these community events.

A substantial police presence remained around the festival, an annual celebration of Latin American culture that draws thousands to Toronto’s St. Clair West neighborhood for live music, dancing, food, and cultural performances.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X that he was “horrified” by the shooting and expressed his full support for police efforts to apprehend those responsible. “My prayers are with the families grieving their loved ones, those who are in critical condition, and everyone affected by this horrific event,” he said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a social media post that his thoughts were with the victims, families, and all those affected. “I am devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed two lives and injured others,” he said.

Toronto, Canada’s largest city, remains one of North America’s safest major cities. Fatal shootings, especially those involving multiple victims in public places, are relatively rare.

“Toronto is one of the safest cities in the world, but with a population of three million we are not immune,” Deputy Chief Barredo noted.

Source link