Danforth shooter had long history of mental illness but motive unclear: police

A police investigation into the Greektown shooting found despite Faisal Hussain’s extensive history of mental health issues there was no way for police to predict last summer’s deadly rampage on the Danforth.

Police chief Mark Saunders said while Hussain did not have a criminal record, he was “a troubled individual who was clinically treated for violence against himself and an outward expression of violent thoughts.”

The investigation found that Hussain had at least three interactions with police between May 2010 and February 2012 that required him to be hospitalized under the Mental Health Act for incidents of self-harm at school.

Two days before the Danforth shooting, Hussain was arrested for attempting to steal ice cream but no charges were laid.

Police say there is no evidence that Hussain was affiliated with radical ideologies, hate groups or terrorist organizations leading up to the deadly shooting.

When asked if there was any way for police to predict the deadly rampage, Saunders said “no,” but says mental health played a role.

“The one question the family and the public wanted to know is why,” Saunders said as he detailed the findings of the probe. “Although we collected all of the evidence that was available to us for this crime, a crime where the shooter died at the scene, we may never know the answer to why.”

While Hussain was carrying seven magazines of ammunition on the night of the shooting along with a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun, the police investigation found he never applied for nor was granted a firearms license.

Police said the gun used in the shooting was made in the U.S. and was lawfully exported to Toronto in 2013. It was reported stolen in 2016 but investigators don’t know how it ended up in the hands of Hussain.

Hussain killed two people and injured 13 others before exchanging gunfire with police on Bowden Street, just south of Danforth on the night of July 22, 2018.

Julianna Kozis, 10, and 18-year-old Reese Fallon died in the attack.

Hussain was found dead nearby and police have said he shot and killed himself.

Hussain’s parents previously issued a statement, outlining their son’s battle with depression and psychosis, and denounced his actions on the night of the attack.

Saunders said police took this “unprecedented step” of releasing the findings of their investigation to help the families and victims of the attack with closure.

“Sadly, it does not provide all the answers as to why this occurred,” said Saunders.

Read the full findings of the Toronto police investigation into the Danforth shooting.