Salsa on St. Clair cancelled Sunday after deadly shooting
· Toronto Sun
The last day of the Salsa on St. Clair festival has been cancelled after a deadly mass shooting during the popular midtown event Saturday night.
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“Due to the complex police investigation at the scene, we understand that the festival will not resume today, Sunday, July 12,” organizers of the event, Salsa in Toronto, said in a statement posted online.
The organizers also said they were “shocked and deeply saddened by the shootings,” and expressed their condolences to the victims’ families and “everyone affected by this senseless violence.”
Toronto Police said two men were killed and four others hospitalized after shots rang out at around 8 p.m. near St. Clair Ave. W. and Arlington Ave.
The area was closed to vehicle traffic due to the festival, which was happening on St. Clair Ave. W. between Christie St. and Winona Dr. over the weekend.
‘Exchange of gunfire’
Speaking to the media Saturday night, Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said two men were killed after an “exchange of gunfire between individuals” and two firearms were recovered.
No arrests were made.
Barredo described the police investigation into the shooting as “complex.”
“This was a very chaotic scene,” he said, adding that approximately 13,000 people were at the festival at the time of the shooting.
Though police haven’t released information about the victims, a police source told the Toronto Sun that a 40-year-old man, 19-year-old woman and another female were among those who were injured.
City officials respond to shooting
Toronto Councillor Josh Matlow, whose ward covers the area of the shooting, described the scene as “surreal” in a post on X Saturday night.
“A helicopter flying overhead, and dozens of officers shutting down the area. What happened tonight was really painful, terrifying and saddening,” he said, expressing his condolences to the victims and their families
“Our police, firefighters and paramedics have my heartfelt gratitude. They were truly remarkable,” he added.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also responded to deadly incident, stating she was “disgusted and angered” by the shooting.
“This was a reckless, despicable act of violence at a crowded festival,” she wrote on X Saturday night.
“I will ensure Toronto Police have every resource they need to find those responsible, and they will keep working around the clock to get guns off our streets,” she said.
“I want to thank the police, paramedics and firefighters for their fast response to this emergency. They head towards danger when we need them most and I am grateful for their service to the people of our city,” she added.
Deputy Mayor and Councillor Mike Colle blamed “weak laws” for the shooting.
“These Disgusting Gun Gangsters have no fear of our weak laws and total lack of consequences,” Colle wrote on Facebook Saturday night.
“Ottawa and Queen’s Park wake up and put an end to Easy Bail and Dropping Charges. No Bail for Gun Gangsters!”