2 men dead, 1 arrested after 'terrifying' daytime shooting in Toronto, police say
Two men are dead, a woman is injured and another man is in custody after a daytime shooting in downtown Toronto on Tuesday, police say.
All four people involved, the three victims and one suspect, are related, according to Det.-Sgt. Tiffany Castell of the Toronto Police Service. Castell declined to say how the four are related.
The incident happened in Regent Park, in the area of Dundas Street E., and Parliament Street. Police say they received several 911 calls about gunshots at about 1:30 p.m.
"There were people who were out here walking around, people who are taking their kids out to play. It's March Break. It is certainly terrifying. It's something that's very saddening, the fact that we've lost two members of our community here," she said.
Two police officers were injured while pursuing the suspect and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One officer remains in hospital, Castell said.
"I'm just so grateful to the exceptional work by officers at 51 Division who put their lives legitimately on the line here today to take this individual into custody. I'm grateful that, at the end of it, while we've lost two of our citizens, that we didn't lose any additional individuals in this sad occasion."
Castell said the incident began in a house on Arnold Avenue and spilled out onto the street.
Police arrived to find three people suffering gunshot wounds.
One man was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
A woman was also taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is expected to be released soon.
Dundas Street E. was closed between Parliament Street and Sackville Street after two men were killed in a shooting Tuesday afternoon. (Jérémie Bergeron/CBC)
Castell said officers located the suspect and were pursuing him on foot, when "quite the altercation" occurred. The suspect was arrested on Sackville Street, she said. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has not been notified.
A firearm has been recovered, she said.
"At this point, we're not seeking any other individuals in relation to the shooting, but we're certainly we're seeking anyone who was a witness or anyone who knows anything at all about what occurred," she said.
Next of kin has yet to be notified and no names have been released.
The homicide unit is investigating.
As of 10 p.m., Dundas Street E. between Parliament Street and Sackville Street was still closed for the investigation.
The scene where two police officers were injured while chasing a shooting suspect is pictured in Toronto, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, said the deaths "deeply saddened" her.
"My heart goes out to the families and community. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured officers," Chow wrote.
"I've spoken with the Chief to express gratitude for the officers' swift action in apprehending the suspect."
Coun. Chris Moise, who represents Toronto Centre, said one of his staff people knows the family that was victimized in the shooting on Tuesday.
Moise said Regent Park recently celebrated two years without a single death due to gun violence and it's "heartbreaking" to have to see gun violence in the community again.
"It's sad to hear," he said. "It's a difficult day."