Two people have been rushed to hospital after a suspect opened fire during an outdoor fitness class at Christie Pits Park on Saturday morning.
It happened at around 8:50 a.m.
Police say they arrived at the park to find one victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers then located a second victim nearby a short time later.
Both victims were subsequently rushed to hospital via ambulance.
One of the victims, a 35-year-old man, is in life-threatening condition after being shot in the abdomen while the second victim, a 20-year-old man, was shot in the foot and is recovering.
Police say that one of the victims was leading the fitness class at the time.
It is not immediately clear whether the fitness class participants were targeted.
One witness did tell CP24 that the shooter had been participating in the class for 30 to 40 minutes prior to taking out a gun and opening fire on the group.
Police, however, have not confirmed that detail.
“I don’t think we are at the point where we are willing to make any sort of statement about this being a targeted shooting,” Const. Craig Brister told CP24 on Saturday morning. “Investigators are still conducting interviews with witnesses so we are trying to be careful with what information we are releasing. We don't want to taint any recollection from witnesses.”
‘Prison Pump’ boot camp class was taking place
According to a statement from 25/7 Fitness, one to two dozen people were attending its “Prison Pump” boot camp when the shots rang out.
The class is held from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. every Saturday, the statement said.
Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the shooting to come forward.
The suspect is described as a black male aged 25 to 30. He had a thin build and stood between five-foot-eight and five-foot-nine inches tall. He had short cornrows hanging out of a baseball cap on his head.
He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, a black hoodie with a white logo in the centre, black sweat pants with a light-colour logo in the left front hip area, and light-coloured running shoes.
He wore dark-coloured sunglasses with gold trim on the arms.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).
