Toronto police say two people are dead and 13 others are in hospital after a mass shooting incident Sunday night in the downtown Toronto neighbourhood known as Greektown.
Police Chief Mark Saunders said a woman was killed and that a nine-year-old girl, who was among those injured, was in critical
condition after a gunman opened fire with a pistol around 10 p.m. on Danforth Avenue, a busy thoroughfare lined with restaurants.
Saunders said the shooter exchanged fire with police officers and died at the scene, though no officers were injured.
Jody Steinhauer tells CBC News she was at Christina’s restaurant on the Danforth with her family when she heard what sounded like 10 to 15 blasts of firecrackers.
She said she was told to run to the back of the restaurant.
“We started to hear people scream out front,” Steinhauer said.
John Tulloch was getting out of his car on the Danforth when he heard gunshots.
“I thought it was fireworks at first ’cause it was a rapid fire,” he said. “We saw people starting to run in our direction. I still didn’t know what it was and then more people started running.”
One witness described the suspect as a white male, in his late to early 30s, who was dressed in all black. Police have yet to provide a suspect description.
Police spokesperson Mark Pugash said it’s too early to say whether the shooting is terrorism.
B.C premier John Horgan posted a message on social media in the hours after the incident.
“I’m shocked and deeply saddened by the shooting in Toronto’s Danforth neighbourhood,” he wrote.
“To the heroic first responders and friends and family of those affected: we in British Columbia are with you tonight.“
With files from Canadian Press & CBC
Ben O'Hara
