A shooting at the Salsa on St Clair street festival in Toronto on Saturday evening resulted in the deaths of two men and injuries to four others. According to Toronto police, the incident involved an exchange of gunfire between two individuals who were targeting each other. The shooting occurred around 8:12 PM near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, a location bustling with festival attendees.
Details of the Shooting Incident
Toronto police deputy chief Frank Barredo reported that investigators recovered two firearms at the scene. Initially, the police had issued an active shooter warning, but Barredo later confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the public. However, the involvement of the two gunmen put many festival-goers in danger.
“There was some concern about an active shooter. That turned out not to be the case,” Barredo stated during a late-night news conference. Despite the quick response, no suspects had been arrested at the time of the briefing.
Reactions from Officials and the Community
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her outrage, calling the incident a “reckless and irresponsible act of violence” occurring in a family-friendly environment. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as festival-goers fled in panic. Valerie Rodriguez, who was nearby at a restaurant, recounted, “A bunch of people … told us to lay down onto the floor.”
