Two suspects who fatally shot a 61-year-old grandmother in a Riverdale laneway over the weekend were likely targeting a group of young men that were congregated nearby, police say.

According to police, Peggy Smith was with her daughter and grandchildren outside their home in the Dundas and Munro streets area early Saturday evening when the unidentified assailants opened fire on a group of five men that were gathered nearby.

At that point, police say that Smith and her family attempted to run to safety. That’s when Smith was struck by gunfire.

“I believe this shooting was targeted however I do not believe Peggy or her family were the intended targets,” Det. Dave Dickinson told reporters on Tuesday. “There were a number of young men outside in this laneway near where Peggy was shot and it is my belief that this group of men were the ones who were targeted.”

Dickinson told reporters that officers have spoken to about half of the five men that he believes were the targets of the shooting, however he said that police have been unable to identify the others or track them down.

The detective said that he is not sure whether the men were familiar with Smith and her family and has not determined what they were doing in the laneway at the time.

Dickinson also noted that there were a number of other families “outside enjoying the summer evening” when upwards of 10 gunshots rang out.

“In my opinion this was a cowardly act,” he said.

Police looking for two suspects

Police have said that they are looking for two men who were seen walking southbound into the laneway, opening fire and then running towards Dundas Street near Broadview Avenue.

At this point, police say they are not sure whether one or two handguns were used in the shooting.

A motive in the case also remains unknown.

“I am hoping those witnesses (the intended targets) come forward and supply me with that,” Dickinson said.

Surveillance footage released

As part of the ongoing investigation, police have released grainy surveillance camera footage that shows the men as they made their way to and from the murder scene.

The first suspect is described as a brown male who is in his 20s and is about five-foot-six with an average build and a full beard. He was last seen wearing dark pants, a grey hoodie and a black baseball cap.

The second suspect is described as a black male of Somali descent who is in his late teens or early 20s and is about five-foot-eleven with a skinny build. He was last seen wearing dark pants and a grey hoodie that may have had a dark band running horizontally across it.

Dickinson said that his hope is that someone will recognize the suspects or remember seeing two men running through the Dundas Street and Broadview area early Saturday evening.

"Dundas Street would have been very busy with vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the time and I need to hear from anyone who saw these two men running in that area," he said.