6 shootings, including 2 homicides, in 24 hours in Toronto

Two people are dead and several others are injured in a violent 24 hours that saw six shootings take place across the city.

Mayor John Tory said he reached out to Toronto’s police chief Mark Saunders on Wednesday morning and expressed his “very serious concern over these brazen acts of gun violence.”

“He assured me Toronto Police are doing everything possible to investigate these crimes and bring those responsible for such cowardly acts to justice,” Tory said in a statement.

“We also discussed the determination we have to dramatically reduce the supply of illegal guns and to invest in families and neighbourhoods, both of which will be essential to reducing these unacceptable levels of violence in our city.”

Toronto has had a record number of homicides this year — over half of which have been gun related.

Man dead, woman injured, shooting near King and Spadina

Toronto police were called to King Street West, west of Spadina near Brant Street, after shots rang out just after midnight on Wednesday.

Police said a 34-year-old man was walking with a group of people when he was approached by the suspect and shot multiple times.

A woman in her 20s, who was walking in the area, was also shot but her injuries are not life-threatening.

Both victims were rushed to hospital, where the man was later pronounced dead. He has since been identified as Edwin “Chris” Humberto Velasque, 34, from Toronto.

This was is the city’s 95th homicide of the year.

Police said the suspect fled the area in a vehicle believed to be a blue Mazda. The licence plate on the vehicle is ATVP 407, but police say  that plate is not associated to that vehicle.

Security images of the car can be seen below:

There has been no word on a possible motive for the shooting.

The area of King and Spadina was closed for several hours while police continued their investigation.

 

Man in life-threatening condition, shooting near Eglinton at Keele

 

A man is in life-threatening condition due to a shooting near Eglinton at Keele Street and Ingram Drive that happened Tuesday around 7:50 p.m.

Police continue to investigate, but there is no word on any suspects at this time.

 

Man with serious injuries, shooting near Jane and Finch

 

Also on Tuesday, a man suffered serious injuries in a shooting in the area of Driftwood Avenue and Niska Road, near Jane Street and Finch Avenue West at around 4:30 p.m.

Police said there were reports that a collision preceded the gunfire.

The victim was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Police said one person is in custody, but they believe more suspects are outstanding. They are asking the public to avoid the area.

 

Man with serious injuries, shooting at Bathurst and St. Clair

 

Earlier on Tuesday, police responded to reports of gunshots in the Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue West around 10 a.m.

A man was found in the area suffering from gunshot wounds.

He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, but police say he’s expected to survive.

Police are looking for two men who ran from the scene. No suspect descriptions were provided.

 

Man dead, shooting at Jane and Finch

 

A man was shot and killed outside an apartment building on San Romanoway, in the Jane Street and Finch Avenue West area around 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

The victim has since been identified as Lawrence Errol Joel John, 28, of Toronto (pictured below).

He is the 94th homicide victim of the year.

Police are looking for three male suspects who may have fled in a white hatchback.

 

Man with serious injuries, shooting near Finch and Markham

 

Toronto’s ugly day of gun violence began Tuesday at around 1:30 a.m. when a man was shot on Crittenden Square and Crow Trail near Markham Road and Finch Avenue West.

Police said multiple shots were fired and a grey car was seen fleeing. A firearm was located in the area.

The victim’s injuries are serious, but not life-threatening.

Shell casings found, no victim, near Lansdowne and Queen

In an incident where it appears nobody was shot, multiple gunshots heard near Lansdowne and Seaforth avenues, north of Queen Street West early Wednesday just after 1:30 a.m. Officers found a number of shell casings in the area but so far no victims have been reported.

Check out the shootings on the storymap below.

To see all of this year’s murders, take a look at our homicide map.