Advertisement

Toronto shooting: Two dead and 12 hurt as gunman opens fire in street before being killed in shootout

A gunman dressed all in black opened fire on a busy Toronto street, leaving two people dead and another 12 injured - including a young girl.

The 29-year-old attacker also died following the rampage in the Canadian city's Greektown district on Sunday night.

A video from one witness shows a man dressed in black clothes and a black hat walking quickly and firing three shots from the pavement into at least one restaurant. Witnesses described hearing about 20 shots and the sound of a weapon being reloaded several times.

Police said it was too early to provide a motive for the shooting, but local councillor Paula Fletcher said: "It's not gang related. It looks like someone who is very disturbed."

Toronto police said 12 people were being treated in hospital, including a nine-year-old girl who was in a critical condition, while a woman and a second person died from their wounds.

One of the injured is taken away from the scene of the shooting - Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA 
One of the injured is taken away from the scene of the shooting Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The gunman, who used a handgun in the attack, died after an exchange of gunfire with police near Danforth and Pape avenues at around 10pm.

Monica Hudon, a spokeswoman for the province's Special Investigations Unit, said officers found the suspect about three streets away from the scene and exchanged fire. She said the man fled and was then found dead back in Danforth Avenue.

It was not immediately clear if the man killed himself or died of injuries after being shot by police.

An armed police officer at the scene of the shooting in Toronto - Credit: Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock 
An armed police officer at the scene of the shooting in Toronto Credit: Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock

Paramedics, firefighters and police had converged on the shooting in Toronto's east end, which has many popular restaurants, cafes and shops.

"We are looking at all possible motives... and not closing any doors," Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said at the site of the shooting.

Toronto Police officers  - Credit: COLE BURSTON /AFP
Toronto police officers near the scene of the shooting on Sunday night Credit: COLE BURSTON /AFP

Jody Steinhauer was at Christina's restaurant with her family when she heard what sounded like 10 to 15 blasts of "firecrackers".

"We started to hear people scream out front," Steinhauer told CBC News, adding they were told to stay in the restaurant.

People leave an area taped off by the police near the scene of a mass shooting in Toronto - Credit: CHRIS HELGREN /Reuters
People leave an area taped off by police near the scene of a mass shooting in Toronto Credit: CHRIS HELGREN /Reuters

Witness John Tulloch said he and his brother had just got out of their car when he heard up to 30 gunshots.

"We just ran. We saw people starting to run so we just ran," he said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford tweeted a message of solidarity to the victims.

The incident comes amid a spate of more than 200 shootings in Toronto this year.

About two dozen have been fatal and city officials have blamed the crime surge on gang violence.

But Toronto Councillor Paula Fletcher told CP24 she heard the gunman in Sunday's attack was "emotionally disturbed".

"It's not gang related. It looks like someone who is very disturbed," Ms Fletcher said.

Police are seen near the scene of a mass shooting in Toronto - Credit: CHRIS HELGREN /Reuters
Police are seen near the scene of the mass shooting in Toronto Credit: CHRIS HELGREN /Reuters

Mayor John Tory said the latest attack was "evidence of a gun problem" in Toronto.

"Guns are too readily available to too many people," Mr Tory said during a news conference two hours after the shooting.

Canada traditionally has relatively low levels of gun violence, particularly compared to the United States.

In numbers | US gun violence
In numbers | US gun violence

"We were so use to living in a city where these things didn't happen," Mr Tory said. "But there are things that happen nowadays and they are just unspeakable."

Over the weekend, Toronto police deployed dozens of additional officers to deal with the recent rise in gun violence.