Homes with bullet holes, residents shaken: Durham police investigate 6 shootings in past week
'Now I don't think anywhere is safe,' says a Whitby, Ont., resident
Elaine Watson was in bed Thursday, when she heard a series of bangs outside her Whitby, Ont., home.
A day earlier, 14 gunshots were fired into a housing complex in Oshawa, with one bullet found under the bed of a 12-year-old girl.
The incidents are among six shootings in Durham Region over the past week that have left homes with bullet holes and residents shaken.
Watson said she jumped of her bed when she heard the noise and ran to the window. She couldn't see anything, but a bullet had hit the side of her home.
"It's disturbing because this is usually a very quiet neighbourhood," Watson told CBC Toronto. "Now I'm nervous. Now I don't think anywhere is safe."
No one was injured in the incidents, but in all of the cases, police have said people were home at the time of the shootings.
In a post on X on Thursday, Durham Regional Police Chief Peter Moreira pledged swift action against gun violence.
"We are committed to dedicating more resources to preventing and investigating gun related crimes. Each illegal gun we take off the streets prevents untold numbers of shootings and victimization," Moreira said.
After the Thursday shooting, police released audio of the gunfire.
Const. Emily Mitchell, spokesperson for Durham Regional Police Service, says the shootings are disturbing for people who live in the region.
"This is something that is affecting our communities across the region. This is something we are taking incredibly seriously," Mitchell said.
"This is an alarming thing for our community."
The region has seen 45 shooting incidents so far this year, a 50 per cent increase compared to the same time last year.
Mitchell said police cannot confirm if the shootings on Thursday and Wednesday are related but said police are continuing to investigate.
In Thursday's incident, gunfire was heard in the area of Haverhill Crescent and Harrongate Place, near Taunton Road and Baldwin Street S., in Whitby. Officers responded to a call about the sound of gunshots at about 1:15 a.m
Two houses were left with bullet holes.
Watson's was one of them.
Police have determined that at least two firearms were used in the shooting because two different types of shell casings were found. Officers found about 20 casings.
On Wednesday, 14 gunshots were fired into a housing complex in north Oshawa, near Taunton Road and Mary Street. Officers responded to a call for the sound of gunshots at about 2:05 a.m.
Several shell casings were found and multiple houses were shot at.
"Residents were home at the time of the shooting and the bullets entered their homes, severely compromising their safety," police said in a news release on Wednesday.
Gabby Boileau is the mother of the girl whose room had a bullet hole. While relieved that her daughter was not home at the time, she said she has not been able to process everything that has happened.
"There's actually a bullet hole underneath the bed," Boileau said.
"Had she been here that night and not at her father's, it would have been fatal," she added.
"I don't know how to feel, to be honest with you. It's just a lot. I've slept very minimal hours since it all happened and just keeping my head up high and soldiering on. I'm just praying that police are able to do what they do best and find the perpetrator."
Anyone who has seen anything suspicious, who has witnessed anything, or who has video footage, including cellphone, home surveillance or dashboard camera, is urged to come forward to police.
With files from Muriel Draaisma, Sue Goodspeed, Britnei Bilhete, Andréane Williams