Daylight Shooting Sparks School & Transit Lockdown
Posted June 6, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s happened again – another brazen daylight shooting has rocked the G.T.A.
This latest one sparked a flurry of activity in the downtown core, after a man was felled by bullets on Albert Frank Place in the Jarvis and Front St. area.
The E.T.F. and the K9 squad both rushed to the scene around 12:30pm Tuesday, after a male believed to be a teenager or in his early 20s was hit. He’s been sent to hospital for emergency treatment and there are reports he may be in critical condition.
Police were forced to cordon off a wide area as the hunt for the gunman began in earnest. There’s no word on a motive.
Area residents who saw the incident happen remain in shock that so much blood could be spilled in their neighbourhood.
“I heard four very loud sharp bangs. Bang, bang, bang, bang!” relates Heather Johnston.
“I called 911 immediately and I was talking on the phone to them and I was watching a guy that was wearing a white hoodie tear off down Albert Frank. I saw the guy that was shot drop to the ground, and he was rolling over and holding his stomach.
“I’m thinking first of all it’s not real. I mean they do movies and things out here. I thought this is not real. Well it is. This guy is tearing off. This guy is dropping. I hear sirens in the back.”
There were other immediate effects from the shocking discharge.
Area schools were placed into lockdown mode while authorities tried to determine whether it was safe for the students to come outside.
And trains heading east of Union Station were also stopped for a time, as lawmen attempted to keep the shooter from escaping by rail.
Service resumed in time for the afternoon rush.
Cops have yet to catch up to the triggerman, but are hoping someone calls them with a key clue.
“There’s many schools in the area. There’s a threat to the children, the members of the community that live in this area and we want people to step up to the plate,” pleads Det. Sgt. Neil Corrigan.
“We want people to take responsibility to say we’re going to put an end to this violence and we want them to help us by contacting the police.”
Investigators are looking for at least two suspects but still need help with descriptions. Call Crime Stoppers anonymously at (416) 222-TIPS.
