Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said the record number of homicides in Toronto was 86 in 2007. In fact, it was 89 in 1991.
A man appearing to be in his 20s was shot and killed in Toronto’s Downsview neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon, edging the city closer to a record year for homicides. The daytime shooting occurred around many potential witnesses, police said. However, investigators got only sparse descriptions of the two male suspects, saying the pair fled east in a grey vehicle.
Police and emergency medical services were called to the scene at Camborne Avenue and Dalraith Road around 2:02 p.m., after the sound of five gunshots was heard near the residential corner. First responders arrived to find a young man with what appeared to be gunshot wounds on his upper body, and no vital signs. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The death marks the 85th homicide in Toronto this year, putting the city on track to surpass the record of 89 in 1991. This year’s statistics are unusually high even factoring in the 10 deaths connected to the high-profile van attack on Yonge Street in April. While gun violence historically peaks in the summer, Toronto Police data show that gun violence remains elevated in the fall. There have been more than 300 shootings so far this year – more than 40 of which have been fatal. There were 39 fatal shootings in all of 2017.
Police have received multiple calls about the incident, but are seeking out more information.
“At any time there’s a homicide, we obviously are concerned,” police spokeswoman Katrina Arrogante said on Thursday. “For anyone that has any information with regards to the male suspects, we’d like to be able to hear from them, because we obviously have two males that are outstanding right now that may be responsible for this.”
With a report from Molly Hayes