A “complex” investigation is underway into a shooting at a popular Latin street festival in Toronto that left two men dead and at least four others seriously injured on Saturday night.
Thousands of people including families, children and seniors, were enjoying the first night of this year’s Salsa on St. Clair when gunshots rang out shortly after 8 p.m.
Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said there was an “exchange of gunfire” between individuals “targeting each other” near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, sending festival attendees running in all directions away from the scene.
One witness told CP24 that people were even “trampling” over each other so they could get to safety.
Dozens of police officers, along with paramedics, descended on the festival and found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.
Barredo said one man was pronounced dead at the scene while another died later in the hospital. There identities have not been released
Four others were also taken to the hospital with serious injuries, Barredo said.
Toronto police’s social media accounts posted that officers were looking for an “active shooter” at the scene.
Barredo, in a late-night news conference, later confirmed that there was actually no active shooter.
“That turned out not to be the case. As you can imagine, the information is flowing very, very quickly when something like this is unfolding,” he said.
“An active shooter is something that we put out because we weren’t sure in the initial few moments of what it was. It turned out not to be an active shooter in the classic state sense of the word,” Barredo explained when asked to elaborate.
No arrests have been made.
“It’s still far too early in the investigation to tell you who was involved, what their roles were, and who might be outstanding. That information will come when it becomes available,” Barredo said.
He noted that officers have recovered two firearms and that they have three crime scenes.
Barredo said the investigation into what exactly happened will be “complex.”
“I can say it’s complex because of the sheer number of people involved, just the chaotic amount of information. There’d be lots of video to pour through, lots of witness statements and evidence to pour through,” he said.
Barredo noted that there were approximately 13,000 people at the time.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow denounced the shooting.
“I’m deeply disturbed and angry about this reckless, irresponsible act of violence, and right in the middle of a festival attended by families, children, and seniors,” the mayor said. “Just beyond words, how disturbed I am.”
Our live coverage of the shooting has ended this evening. Here’s a recap of the developments.
11:45 p.m. - Ring video shows people running
Ring camera footage obtained by CP24 shows people running and screaming in an alleyway as gunfire erupted.
11:14 p.m. - Carney, Poilievre react to shooting
Prime Minister Mark Carney in a post on social media said he was “horrified” by the shooting.
“My prayers are with the families grieving their loved ones, those who are in critical condition, and everyone who has been affected by this horrific event. My thanks to the police officers and other first responders whose courage and fast action prevented further tragedy,” Carney said.
He added that police have his full support as they look for whoever was responsible for the incident.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he was “shocked” to hear about the shooting.
“Our prayers are with the families of the two individuals who passed away, and we hope for a full recovery for those injured. May the police find the monster responsible for this innocent loss of life and bring them to justice,” Poilievre said in a social media post.
11:13 p.m. – Mayor Chow says she is ‘deeply disturbed’
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also spoke at the news conference and called the shooting a “reckless, irresponsible act of violence.”
Chow said she is “deeply disturbed and angry” that it happened at a festival attended by families, children and seniors.
“Certainly, in such a crowded festival, that kind of reckless violence just leaves me very disturbed and just totally angry,” the mayor said.
Chow sent her condolences to the loved ones of the victims who died in the shooting.
Area councillors Mike Colle and Josh Matlow were also at the news conference.
Colle had strong words against whoever was behind the shooting.
“We just want to say how disgusting this is. This gangster violence in a peaceful family festival. We had this for 15 years, no problems, and to shoot up a festival indiscriminately, these thugs must be caught, no bail, put them away for 20 years,” Colle said.
“This threatens all of our public events. This has got to stop.”
10:59 p.m. - No arrests have been made
In a news conference, Deputy Frank Barredo said while there was a concern of an active shooter, “that turned out not to be the case.”
“As you can imagine, the information is flowing very, very quickly when something like this is unfolding,” Barredo said.
He said the incident began with an “exchange of gunfire” between individuals that were targeting each other.
“An active shooter is something that we put out because we weren’t sure in the initial few moments of what it was. It turned out not to be an active shooter in the classic sense of the word,” Barredo said.
The deputy chief added they have three crime scenes and the investigation into what exactly transpired will be “complex.”
No arrests have been made. Barredo said firearms have been recovered at the scene.
10:30 p.m. - Witness recounts hearing second round of gunshots
Ana Bettencourt was less than a block away from where the shooting occurred and remembered hearing what sounded like “muffled powerful fireworks.”
“And then everyone started running, which obviously then I did the same. We just trampled over each other and were running and took one of the side streets,” she said.
Shortly after, she heard from someone that there was a shooting and multiple people were injured.
Bettencourt said she went to another intersection to watch what was happening when gunshots rang out again.
“That was equally scary. If anything, it was scarier for me then. Myself plus a number of people of course, we started trampling around and running. (I) went to another alleyway and then ducked under a car, just waiting until the commotion died down,” she said.
“All I wanted to do was to get out of that area and whatever cost,” Bettencourt added.
10:19 p.m. - Toronto police to provide update
Toronto police say Deputy Chief Frank Barredo is set to speak to reporters at 10:45 p.m. at a command post at St. Clair Avenue West and Winona Drive.
Play the video above to watch the news conference.
10:18 p.m.- ‘Everybody was running,’ witnesses recount chaotic scene
Jacy Lin said she was at the festival stage near Arlington Avenue and didn’t hear the gunshots due to the loud music.
“But suddenly everybody was running towards the stage,” Lin told CP24. At that point, she said people were confused as to what was happening.
Police shortly arrived and that’s when she said they learned about an active shooter.
“Everybody was just leaving,” she said, recounting that she saw paramedics performing CPR on someone.
“Everything happened so fast.”
Pamela Garcia recounted hearing what she thought were gunshots, prompting her to run with everybody.
“Everybody was yelling. So scary,” she said.
10 p.m. – Ford says he is ‘devastated’
Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacted to the shooting on social media, saying, “I am devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed two lives and injured others.”
“My thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected,” the premier said.
“The person responsible must be caught, brought to justice and spend the rest of their life behind bars.”
9:34 p.m. - Sixth injured victim found
Toronto police say they have located a sixth shooting victim. There is no immediate word on the extent of their injuries.
As it stands, there are two people dead and six injured in the shooting.
9:22 p.m. – How will police search for the shooter
CTV News public safety analyst Chris Lewis says Toronto police will go where information points them to.
“People can be so far gone and long gone. They could be in a condo on top of a building. They could be anywhere. So at this point, I don’t think they’re going to find anybody in that area. They’re going to search it as best they can,” Lewis said.
“They’ll be probably basing their search on what people are telling them. We saw a man running this way with a gun; well, that’s where they’re going to start searching and work out from there.”
9:17 p.m. - Scene secured, police say
In a post on social media, Toronto police say they have secured the scene.
No additional victims have been reported.
“A large police presence remains in the area as officers continue their investigation,” police said in the post.
“Please continue to avoid the area and follow directions from emergency personnel.”
What we know
Police said they got a call at 8:12 p.m. for a shooting on St. Clair Avenue West near Arlington Avenue.
Officers arrived and found five people suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said two were pronounced dead at the scene.
There is no immediate word on the condition of the other three victims.
“Please avoid the area immediately,” police said.
No descriptions of the shooter have been released.
CP24 reporter describes scene
Joanna Lavoie, a CP24.com journalist, is at the festival. She said people were having fun and enjoying the festival before the shooting.
“We were dancing,” Lavoie said.
She recounted that the energy just changed when the shooting occurred.
“People are terrified,” she said, adding police are telling people to go home.
Lavoie said the festival is essentially shut down.
“I’m a little bit shaken,” she said, noting that she came down to the festival to have a fun time with her friends.
What is Salsa on St. Clair festival
The annual TD Salsa on St. Clair happens along St. Clair Avenue West between Christie Street and Winona Drive.
It is touted as Canada’s no. 1 “Latino-themed cultural celebration.”
According to the event, it attracts hundreds of thousands of people during the two-day festivities.
