Man in critical condition after shooting outside Queensway strip club
Posted December 30, 2014 2:08 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A 24-year-old man is in critical condition after a shooting outside The House of Lancaster strip club early Tuesday.
Police were called just before 3 a.m. to the club in the Royal York Road and The Queensway area.
The man was shot several times, with one bullet striking him in the head. He was rushed to St. Michael’s Hospital.
At least 10 shots were fired and one bullet was found lodged in the front door of a nearby home.
Neighbours were understandably rattled.
“At night…it’s not a safe place to be. I don’t know why politicians allow (the strip club) to be open and operate there,” said area resident Bohdon Lypka.
Etobicoke Lakeshore Coun. Justin Di Ciano told CityNews he’s heard numerous complaints about the establishment.
“I heard it loud and clear from too many neigbhours, it’s not the place for this type of establishment.”
Police are looking for multiple suspects but they don’t yet know how many guns were involved.
Paid duty officers had been hired to work an event at the club and were on the scene at the time of the shooting.
“It’s a complete disregard for both the public’s safety and the officers’ safety as well,” said Supt. Shaun Narine.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage to determine if the victim had been inside the club.
In the meantime, the club’s longtime owner Spiro Koumoudouros said he doesn’t believe he should close up shop and denies that guns and drugs are prevalent at the strip club.
It wasn’t the first time a shooting occurred outside the club. There was a shooting in January 2013 and another in August 2011.
Explore an interactive map of the six strip clubs out of about 16 licensed by the City of Toronto that are located in residential areas. Mobile viewers click here.
