TORONTO — A second victim has died after a gunman opened fire on the Danforth in Toronto’s Greektown late Sunday, wounding about a dozen others, the SIU said Monday morning.
Toronto Police sources say the 29-year-old gunman killed himself in the wake of the shooting.
Just after 10 p.m., police, fire and EMS were called to Danforth Ave. near Logan Ave., for reports of a shooting.
Witnesses posted many photos and videos, including a clip that appears to show a man, clad in black with a bag at his side, walk a few steps before lifting his arms in front of him as gunshots ring out.
The Special Investigations Unit says the man exchanged gunfire with police officers before fleeing the area.
The agency says the man was later found dead nearby.
One of the victims is a woman, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said. Information on the second victim was not immediately released.
Numerous ambulances were sent to the scene, where police, firefighters and bystanders attended to a number of victims seen laying on the ground.
St. Michael’s Hospital said it received five patients, whose injuries ranged from serious to critical. Sunnybrook hospital said its trauma centre received three patients. Their status was not released.
Toronto Police sources tell the media a nine-year-old girl was shot in the back.
Katie, who didn’t want to giver her last name, was returning from dinner downtown with friends and was driving eastbound on the Danforth when she witnessed the shooter firing what appeared to be a handgun multiple times on the north side of the street.
“We heard a loud bang and I just looked to my left and I saw a guy in a black hoodie, just standing there, pointing at one of the storefront windows and the glass was just shattered,” she said.
“He was firing multiple shots, we heard eight, if not more.”
The 19-year-old said the shooter stood outside on the sidewalk, but didn’t appear to be using a rifle. She said it looked like he was specifically aiming directly into the restaurant.
“It was like he was in a stance, his arms were straight out,” she said.
“It looked like he was firing straight in front of him. It looked very aimed.
“We stayed in the car and I told my friend to drive faster,” she said. “It didn’t register until a few minutes later. A few blocks later, I dialed 911.”
Katie said the gunman continued to shoot as she and her friends drove away, passing by multiple police cars and ambulances rushing to the scene.
“We’re just in shock right now,” she said. “One of my friends said she saw people on the sidewalk (when he was shooting) and other people down the street coming out of stores. I didn’t even think of ‘mass shooting’ until I started watching the news. And know that I know that, it makes me feel so much worse.”
John Tulloch said he and his brother had just gotten out of their car on Danforth when he heard about 20 to 30 gunshots.
“We just ran. We saw people starting to run so we just ran,” he said.
#BREAKING: Police: One dead, 13 injured in mass shooting in the Greektown area of Toronto; the gunman has killed himself— I.E.N. (@BreakingIEN) July 23, 2018
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Crime specialist Ross McLean said police at the scene told him, before they moved the shooter’s body from the scene, they had to “check in for explosives.”
A little after midnight, police cleared media and bystanders away from an area near Broadview and Danforth in order to detonate a suspicious object inside of a trash can.
As of Monday morning, police still had the Danforth closed between Broadview and Pape Aves. and TTC subway trains were bypassing Chester station.
Mayor John Tory called the shooting rampage “a despicable act” and said he was “outraged.”
“On behalf of all Toronto residents, I am outraged that someone has unleashed such a terrible attack on our city and people innocently enjoying a Sunday evening.
“While our city will always be resilient in the face of such attacks, it does not mean such a cowardly act committed against our residents is any less painful – this is an attack against innocent families and our entire city.
“This is a tragedy and on behalf of all Toronto residents, we are extending our prayers to all the innocent people attacked tonight, their families and their friends.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a statement of support via Twitter.
“My thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible tragedy on the Danforth last night in Toronto, and may the injured make a full recovery,” he wrote Monday morning. “The people of Toronto are strong, resilient and brave — and we’ll be there to support you through this difficult time.”
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