2 men dead after 'absolutely' targeted triple shooting in Toronto
All 3 were socializing when another man opened fire, 1 victim was in wheelchair
Two men are dead and one man is seriously injured following a targeted shooting at a residential highrise in the Mount Dennis neighbourhood early Saturday, police say.
Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders said homicide detectives are seeking a suspect considered armed and dangerous.
Emergency crews were called to Emmett Avenue, near Jane Street and Weston Road, for reports of gunfire around 1:30 a.m.
Saunders said one of three victims was in a wheelchair and investigators believe the shooting was "absolutely" targeted. The shooter was aiming for at least one of the three, if not all three, he said.
"The evidence indicates that the three people who were shot were in the front area, just socializing, and then out of nowhere, the suspect came out and opened fire," Saunders said.
A person who was possibly the gunman was seen running westbound from the area after the shots rang out.
When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One was pronounced dead there and another was rushed to hospital, where he died of his injuries.
The third man, who suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries, made his own way to hospital.
The names and ages of the victims have not been released.
Saunders said police have obtained security camera video, but no weapon has been recovered.
'It hurts'
D'Andre Lall said from the scene that he has lost two of his friends "for no reason," adding that he was the victim of a stabbing in the same area last year.
"The two people that I knew that died here were close to me. They were there for me when I was in this situation. They're there for me and now I can't even be there for them and it hurts," Lall said.
Egbert Dennis also lives in the neighbourhood. He called the shooting senseless.
"It's unreal, because I always pass the guys there. They congregate there and they're kind of like friends. They're always playing their music and having a good time," Dennis said.
"It's just terrible what's happening now in the city."
Speaking to reporters at an unrelated event, Mayor John Tory said his "heart goes to the community in Mount Dennis, which is filled by-and-large with really good, hard working people."
Despite several shootings in the last several days, Toronto remains one of the safest cities in North America, statistically speaking, he said.
"Anytime there's anybody that loses their life, whether it's an act of violence or otherwise, I'm deeply concerned about that," Tory said.
Saunders described the suspect as a man about six feet tall with a muscular build and what he called "baby dreads" —short dreadlocks about three or four inches in length.
Anyone who saw anything in the area at about 1:30 a.m. or who has relevant video or images is urged to call Toronto police's homicide squad.
Anyone victimized by the shooting can contact Toronto police's victim services for help, Saunders added.
