A shooting near a Toronto street festival killed two men and wounded four other people Saturday evening, police reported. Authorities stated that the initial active-shooter warning was prompted by an exchange of gunfire between two individuals targeting each other.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo confirmed that investigators recovered two firearms following the incident, which occurred at 8:12 p.m. near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue during the Salsa on St. Clair festival.
No suspects had been arrested by the time of a late-night news conference, where Barredo verified that both deceased victims were men.
Officers initially advised the public to stay clear of the area before later confirming the scene was secured.
“There was some concern about an active shooter. That turned out not to be the case,” Barredo stated. However, he added that the two gunmen involved in the shooting “indiscriminately put vast numbers of people in danger.”
Valerie Rodriguez reported being outside a nearby restaurant when screaming and running began suddenly.
“A bunch of people … told us to lay down onto the floor,” she recounted. “We got scared because we didn’t know exactly what was happening.”
Festival vendor Patsy Gutierrez said she was serving customers when she observed “a huge wave” of fleeing people.
“Everybody started getting frantic and then we stopped serving,” she said. “I don’t think it should be something that’s happening at these types of events.”
A significant police presence remained around the festival, which is an annual celebration of Latin American culture attracting thousands to Toronto’s St. Clair West neighborhood for live music, dancing, food, and cultural performances.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her distress, saying, “I’m deeply disturbed and angry about this reckless and irresponsible act of violence right in the middle of a festival attended by families.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford posted on social media expressing his thoughts with those affected by the shooting.
“I am devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed two lives and injured others,” Ford said.
Toronto, Canada’s largest city, is noted as one of North America’s safest major cities, making fatal shootings in public places relatively uncommon.
“Toronto is one of the safest cities in the world but we are 3 million people and unfortunately we are not immune,” Barredo commented.