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At the very least two people were killed and 4 others injured after a person opened fire on a Latin street festival in Toronto, Canada, yesterday.
Gunshots rang out as around 13,000 had gathered for Salsa on St Clair near St Clair Avenue West at 8.12pm local time.
At the very least six people were treated for gunshot wounds. Of them, two men died on the scene and 4 were taken to hospital.
Among the many injured was a girl, a witness told CP24.
No arrests have been made and no suspect descriptions have been released. Two firearms were recovered on the scene.
Festival-goers told Toronto Today that they saw a ‘huge wave’ of individuals running and screaming as police swarmed the salsa-themed street party.
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Vendor Patsy Gutierrez said: ‘Everybody began getting frantic after which we stopped serving.
‘I don’t think it needs to be something that’s happening in these form of events.’
William Ajselett was lining up to purchase food when he saw ‘a crowd-crushing situation’ that he feared his wife and friends were caught in.
Councillor Josh Matlow said the atmosphere of the festival, one among Toronto’s hottest summer attractions, was ‘very peaceful’ earlier.
‘The vibe was great,’ he said.
Police still ‘piecing together’ what led to shooting
The police said on X at around 9.30pm that ‘suspect(s) [are] still outstanding’.
Despite initial fears of an lively shooter, Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said this ‘turned out to not be the case’.
‘It’s very difficult to say with certainty what precipitated this,’ Barredo said at an 11pm press conference.
‘I can inform you that there was an exchange of gunfire between individuals and that two firearms were recovered.’
It was not known if any of the suspects were among the many victims.
The deputy chief added: ‘We are going to piece together a few of those bits of data and after we’re in a position to share it with the general public, we definitely will.’
Salsa on St Clair, which has filled the town with live music, food stands and salsa dancing for the past 22 years, was shut down.
The marquee event guarantees an ‘unforgettable day’, its website says.
With mass shootings rare in Toronto, politicians expressed shock and outrage on the incident.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said: ‘I’m horrified by the shooting that has killed two people on the Salsa on St. Clair Festival in Toronto.
‘My prayers are with the families grieving their family members, those that are in critical condition, and everybody who has been affected by this horrific event.’
Mayor Olivia Chow said the shooting left her ‘beyond words’.
‘I’m deeply disturbed and indignant about this reckless, irresponsible act of violence – and right in the midst of a festival attended by families, children, seniors,’ she told reporters.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford paid tribute on X.
He said: ‘Thanks to Toronto Police and our first responders for responding to this horrific incident.
‘The person responsible should be caught, delivered to justice and spend the remainder of their life behind bars.’
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