Frontline cops say it appears the Gun Violence Reduction Strategy announced last month by Toronto Police Chief Saunders and Mayor John Tory, which included putting an additional 200 cops on the street between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. starting July 20, had a chilling effect initially on the city’s gun-toting criminals.
But the murder and mayhem heated up again once the gang bangers realized the extra officers did not mean a return to proactive policing.
Following the July 12 announcement, there was a mass shooting in Greektown that killed two and injured 13 on July 22 and Kevin Boakye was shot to death on July 25. Things calmed down in the city until the Aug. 16 drive by shooting in Rexdale that killed Andre Phoenix.
But it was on Aug. 11 that the gun violence really picked up again after the three-week lull.
SATURDAY, AUG. 11: A gun battle erupted around 5 p.m. at a North York townhouse complex near Tree Sparroway and Leslie St., north of Finch Ave. W., between a shooter in a vehicle and a group of men on foot. Dozens of rounds were fired as kids played in a park nearby. Two men were injured and cops are looking for a black BMW X3 SUV with black rims. Police released images and a video of the suspect vehicle.
SATURDAY, AUG. 11: Half a dozen gunshots rang out in North York near Jane St. and Firgrove Cr., just south of Finch Ave. W., shortly before 1 p.m.Cops found empty shell casings at the scene but no injuries were reported.
SATURDAY, AUG. 11: Numerous gunshots were fired shortly before 1 p.m. in the residential area of Sharbot Ave. and Sophia Dr., near Markham Rd. and Lawrence Ave. E., in Scarborough. Witnesses reported seeing two gunmen in vehicles shooting at each other. Cops found empty shell casings at the scene.
SUNDAY, AUG. 12: Gunshots reportedly rang out around 6 p.m. during a fight in an underground parking garage near Markham Rd. and Orchid Place Dr., south of Sheppard Ave. E., in Scarborough.
MONDAY, AUG. 13: Three men were injured when gunfire erupted at a North York gas station, near Jane St. and Wilson Ave., just after midnight. The shooter fled in a vehicle, possibly a white van.
MONDAY, AUG. 13: Multiple gunshots rang out in a North York townhouse complex near Jane St. and Firgrove Cr., south of Finch Ave. W., just after 6 p.m.Cops found evidence of gunfire and witnesses reported seeing a grey car fleeing the scene.
TUESDAY, AUG. 14: A man, 22, was injured in a shooting in Rexdale near Mount Olive and Silverstone Drs., just east of Martin Grove Rd., shortly after 11 a.m.
TUESDAY, AUG. 14: Gunshots rang out around the noon-hour near Black Creek Dr. and Weston Rd. Cops found empty shell casings but no injuries were reported.
TUESDAY, AUG. 14: Gunfire erupted near Jane St. and Woolner Ave., north of St. Clair Ave. W., around 1 p.m. No injuries were reported.
TUESDAY, AUG. 14: A man was shot in the neck near Wellesley and Ontario Sts., in Cabbagetown, around 11:50 p.m. After a brief foot chase, cops arrested a suspect and seized a Walther P99 9mm pistol with ammunition. Keeron Tashmel Creary, 26, of Toronto, is charged with attempted murder and numerous other related offences.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 15: A man was gunned down at a plaza near Martin Grove Rd. and John Garland Blvd., south of Finch Ave. W., around 11:30 p.m. The city’s 60th murder of the year occurred in the same parking lot where another man, Winston Freckleton, 56, was stabbed to death over the noon-hour on June 23.
SUNDAY, AUG. 19: A man was shot to death around 2:05 a.m. inside a highrise near Adelaide and Parliament Sts.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22: A man was gunned down around 2:30 a.m. on Danforth Ave. just east of Pape Ave., a block or so east of where the mass shooting unfolded in Greektown killing two and injuring 13 barely a month earlier.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22: A man was shot dead in a vehicle near Jane St. and Weston Rd. shortly before 10 a.m.
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