Police launch new task force as overall shooting incidents up 74 per cent from last year

Toronto police are launching a new task force to address an alarming rise in violence within the tow truck industry which has contributed to an almost 74 per cent increase in shootings compared to last year.

Police say while most of the firearm discharges have resulted in no injuries, there have been 24 shooting deaths so far in 2024. That compares to just nine in 2023 – which police say was unusually low and an “outlier,” noting that 2024 was consistent with the past several years – 24 in 2022, 17 in 2021 and 21 in 2020.

Investigators also pointed to a concerning trend when it comes to tow truck violence, noting that there have been 26 tow truck-related shootings in 2024 which represents 12 per cent of the incidents city-wide.

“Over the past six months, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area have seen increased criminal activity surrounding a small segment of the tow truck industry,” said Staff Superintendent Joe Mathews of Detective Operations while noting that towing conflicts across the GTA have historically been about territorial disputes and rivalries.

Matthews adds the issue involves a very small segment of the towing industry and that seven of the nine tow truck arsons in April and May occurred in the east end of the city.

Police say they’ve initiated a new Tow Truck Task Force as part of a proactive preventative response to this particular gun crime.

Investigators say they have made 494 arrests for firearms offences and laid 2,242 charges. They have also taken 363 crime guns off the streets, with 85 to 90 per cent of the weapons seized having come into the province from south of the border, primarily Ohio, Michigan, Florida and Texas.

“We are deploying resources strategically to address these violent crimes, and recent arrests demonstrate that our efforts are yielding results,” said Deputy Chief Robert Johnson.

Johnson calls the recent shootings involving young people “troubling.”

“What drives a 14, 15, or 16-year-old kid to pick up a firearm and use it,” said Johnson.

“One shooting is too many and when it’s focused on a certain area we have to ask ourselves why is it happening and who is involved. Why is it that we’re finding young people more and more involved and I think it’s gang turf warfare and they’re recruiting and engaging kids.”