Fourteen people have been shot, one of them fatally, and the gunman is dead after gunfire rang out along a busy Toronto street on Sunday night, Toronto police said. A woman died and a girl around 8 years old is in critical condition after a gunman opened fire outside a restaurant located on Danforth Avenue the main road in Greektown neighborhood in East Toronto.
Speaking to Greek private ANT1 TV on Monday morning, radio journalist Bettina Dionysopoulos whose workplace is very close to the shooting area said that the gunman fired at a Greek restaurant. “We could see everything from the window,” she said. “People were eating at the restaurant and while the doors were open, a passerby just turned and started to shoot around.”
Dionysopoulos said that many families with children dine out in the restaurants especially on weekends.
Briefing reporters at the scene, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders urged witnesses who had not yet spoken to police to come forward with any information, photos or videos they may have
Toronto Police Chief Saunders has updated media from scene. 14 victims were shot with a handgun. 1 female adult has died. 1 young girl in critical condition. Suspect is dead (not included in 14 victim total) Witnesses call 416-808-2222 Anonymous tips 1-800-222-8477 #GO1341286 ^sm
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) July 23, 2018
Saunders said police received a call shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday about a shooting near Danforth and Logan Avenues in Toronto’s east-end Greektown neighborhood. The area has many restaurants, cafes and shops and is busy with pedestrians on summer nights.
Multiple witnesses told Toronto’s breaking news stations CP24 that they heard anywhere between a dozen and 20 shots.
VIDEO: Witnesses describe the chaotic scene on Danforth Av as the man was shooting into various restaurants as he walked along the road. The suspect is dead, 14 victims shot, one woman is dead. Young girl in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/EQnxj4AJ0Y
— Jeremy Cohn (@JeremyGlobalTV) July 23, 2018
“I just saw carnage” Michael Ryan says… He heard several shots, looked outside his window. Ryan says he saw people running down the street and saw people on the ground pic.twitter.com/zVl1AND8Pa
— Erica Vella (@ericavella) July 23, 2018
#torontoshooting update: Police say gunman walked along Toronto street firing handgun into cafes and restaurants before dying in gunfire exchange with police https://t.co/PyxLVuNnJw pic.twitter.com/wtBwYioSOu
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) July 23, 2018
One man said the shooter was dressed in black and wore a hat.
by @Reporter_Ryan
A brief video posted on social media shows the suspect shooting with his gun.
Super raw & clear Video of #Toronto #Danforth shooter via @arilanise on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/6cbrDFHSOX
— Stilez (@stilez) July 23, 2018
John Tulloch said he and his brother had just gotten out of their car on Danforth when he heard about 20 to 30 gunshots.
“We just ran. We saw people starting to run so we just ran,” he said told the Canadian Press.
Other witnesses described complete chaos as the suspect repeatedly fired his gun. Some social media users posted videos online in which shots can be heard along Danforth Avenue.
Saunders told reporters that a handgun was used in the shooting. He did not elaborate on how the suspect died, but said that there was an “exchange of fire” with police.
Saunders said it’s too early to say what motivated the shooting.
Toronto Mayor John Tory, who joined Saunders on the scene in the early hours of Monday morning, called the shooting a “despicable act.”
“On behalf of all Toronto residents, I am outraged that someone has unleashed such a terrible attack on our city and people innocently enjoying a Sunday evening,” Tory said in a statement.
“This is a tragedy and on behalf of all Toronto residents, we are extending our prayers to all the innocent people attacked tonight, their families and their friends.”
Locals posted on Twitter:
My evening was nice until I heard shooting right out of my place on the danforth. So scary!! The gun violence in Toronto is crazy. pic.twitter.com/eNHLlUlp6r
— n💫 (@nsxoxoii) July 23, 2018
There has been a mass shooting about 2-3 blocks along the Danforth in Toronto where I currently am located. We are safe. But the street has 2-3 dozen EMS, police, fire, etc., vehicles. 5-10 victims (there are unconfirmed death/s). More to come. #torontoshooting #massshooting
— Nicholas Lemon (@nicholaslemon) July 23, 2018
The #Danforth neighbourhood has been my home almost my entire life. I was born there. I grew up there. For years I lived on a corner now sealed off with police tape. It's a place of laughter and food and families and fun. Not this. 💔#Toronto #torontoshooting #TorontoStrong
— Mike Crisolago (@MikeCrisolago) July 23, 2018
So far neither the gunman’ identity not his motive are known.
sources: ctvnews, toronto star, social media.
