Toronto police say they’ve secured the scene where an exchange of gunfire at the Salsa on St. Clair festival left two men dead and multiple injured.
The shooting happened in the area of St Clair Ave. W. and Arlington Ave., police said on social media Saturday evening. Police say no arrest has been made and the suspect or suspects involved are still outstanding.
Police say six people suffered gunshot wounds and two men have been pronounced dead.
Seven people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries. One has life-threatening injuries, paramedics said. They said another patient was not transported.
While they put out an active shooter notice earlier as a precaution, police say they no longer believe there’s a threat to the area.
Deputy Chief Frank Barredo with Toronto police said in a news conference that, while the cause of the shooting is not yet clear, he said that there was an exchange of gunfire.
“This seemed to be an exchange of gunfire between two individuals targeting each other,” Barredo said.
Barredo told reporters that two firearms were recovered after the shooting, and that investigators have determined that there are three crime scenes.
Crowds of people and emergency responder vehicles could be seen on St. Clair Avenue after a shooting at the annual salsa festival. (Elaine Wong/CBC)
The shots were fired at the Salsa on St. Clair street festival, an event that drew large crowds. Barredo said an estimated 13,000 people were at the festival at the time and they expect investigators to be going through a lot of video evidence in the coming days.
Barredo said investigators believe the shooters may have been moving through the crowd.
A CBC reporter on site said several shots rang out just east of the festival’s main stage and paramedics performed CPR to at least one victim.
Officers moved through the crowds urging people to leave the area. People scrambled to get away from the shooting; they shielded their children, ran into restaurants and knocked over patio furniture as they fled.
Police are now advising the public to stay away from the area where they have a large presence.
Politicians speak out following shooting
In a social media post, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she is “disgusted and angered” by the shooting.
“This was a reckless, despicable act of violence at a crowded festival,” she said.
“My thoughts are with the families, friends and communities of those who were injured or tragically passed away.”
Mike Colle, one of Toronto’s deputy mayors, described the shooting as “gangster violence” while speaking to reporters.
“These thugs must be caught,” he said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was “devastated by the senseless violence” in a social media post about the shooting. He said the person responsible must be caught and “spend the rest of their life behind bars.”
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said in a social media post she is thinking of those who were injured and lost their lives in the shooting. She said the shooting happened a short walk from her home.
“My family and I are safe, but I can’t imagine what the families of the victims are experiencing tonight. This is horrific.”