8-year-old boy nearly struck by gunfire in Toronto’s west end near Martingrove and Finch Ave West

Toronto police say it’s a miracle an eight-year-old boy wasn’t killed by gunfire in the city’s west end Saturday night.

Police said the incident took place in front of a home on Jamestown Crescent, near Martin Grove Road and Finch Avenue West, just after 9:30 p.m.

The boy was out playing with his friends when he left the group to go buy candy and found himself in the middle of gunfire.

“I was going to go buy something for my friend and then a car came and I heard a loud bang so I got scared,” the boy told Global News.

“At first I thought it was a firework but I saw the guy and he was holding it differently so I knew it was a gun. And then I got more scared and so I hid.”

Supt. Ron Taverner told Global News a SUV drove down Jamestown Crescent as the boy was crossing the street. He said two males got out of the vehicle, both armed with guns, and started shooting at another person who had just crossed the before the child.

Taverner told reporters at a press conference Wednesday afternoon that it is still unclear whether the individual was an intended target or just a random passerby.

    “A total disregard for life. Out there shooting a firearm there in the direction of a young boy,” he said, adding the child was not the intended target.

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There were no reports of injuries.

“It’s a miracle that this young boy wasn’t struck and we’re so thankful for that,” Taverner said.

    “It’s very outrageous that this has taken place in our community — that people have a total disregard for human life, for children playing in an area.”

The boy’s mother, who didn’t want to be identified due to safety concerns, told Global News that she hears gunshots regularly in the neighbourhood.

“I definitely want to get out of here … six years now but it’s only getting worse,” she said. “It’s just getting too close to my house. My kids are not safe. I am not safe.”

Officers said the SUV seen in the video is described as a white late-model Toyota Rav 4 with a sunroof.

Police said the search continues for the two suspects seen in the video. One of the suspects is described as having a medium build. He was wearing dark pants and a dark hoodie at the time of the incident. There is no description for the second shooter.

Meanwhile, Taverner said he spoke with the young boy and his mother, who he said are both shaken up.

“You can imagine how traumatic the experience has been,” he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

To date in 2018, there have been more than 330 shootings across the GTA.

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