A reckless exchange of bullets at a crowded outdoor party in Toronto killed two young people late Monday night in what the city’s police chief described as an unprecedented episode of gun violence.
At least 19 others, including an infant, were injured after bullets from more than one gun were sprayed into the crowd of more than 200 people at a outdoor barbecue in the city’s east end.
Toronto police now have a “person of interest” in custody.
Homicide investigators have been working “relentlessly through the night” and interviewing scores of witnesses after the shooting, which killed a 14-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man, Police Chief Bill Blair said.
Their names have not been released.
“I’ve been a cop for 35 years and this is the worst incident of gun violence, in my memory, anywhere in North America,” said chief Blair. “It’s very shocking. A lot of innocent people were injured tonight.”
The infant, who is under three years old, is in stable condition.
In addition to those wounded, others received injuries as a result of the widespread panic that ensued after shots were fired.
“I am shocked an disgusted by this senseless act of violence,” read a statement from Mayor Rob Ford early Tuesday morning. “I want to assure residents that this horrific criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.”Continued
