Terror as bullets fly in deadly double shooting in front of Toronto's C Lounge nightclub

TORONTO - A night of partying ended with a terrifying last call.

“We heard gunshots and then saw everyone running towards us shouting ‘people are getting shot,’” 23-year-old Stephanie Lusk recalled Tuesday, hours after a double shooting around 3 a.m. in front of C Lounge nightclub on Wellington St. W. near Portland St.

“They were screaming at us to run,” she said.

Jelena Loncar, 31, was found across the street from the club with a single bullet wound. She was rushed to hospital where was pronounced dead, Toronto Police said.

A 25-year-old male victim was shot up to six times and taken to hospital in critical condition.

The man stumbled to the Shell gas station at Spadina Ave., where 911 was called.

Toronto Police Det. Robert Choe said police have yet to determine if the victims were patrons of the club, but said police were reviewing “an abundance” of surveillance footage from the area.

The male victim was known to police, Choe said, adding detectives have not yet determined if the victims were known to each other or if either of them was targeted.

“Anything is possible and that is one of the avenues we are going to explore but ... the investigation is still in its infancy so that is tough to determine at this point,” he said.

The Chronicle Herald in Halifax identified the man as Tremaine Nigel Fraser, a former Cape Breton University basketball star. Toronto Police would not confirm or deny the report Tuesday night.

A police dog was brought in to try to find the gun used in the shooting and police spent Tuesday canvassing the neighbourhood for witnesses.

Several vehicles of interest, including a black Range Rover and a black Mercedes Kompressor, remained at the scene Tuesday afternoon.

C Lounge had been hosting its weekly industry night where restaurant and bar staff are invited to party, usually at discounted rates.

“I heard about 5–7 rapid shots and then we saw the crowd running towards us,” said 43-year-old Jason Krawchuck — who had been roughly 60 metres from the shooting.

“I saw one man speeding away in a cab with his head out the windows yelling, ‘That was my friend, that was my friend.’”

Police are asking anyone with information to contact homicide detectives at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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