2 killed, 5 wounded in shooting near Toronto street festival in Canada
Toronto police said five people were found with gunshot wounds after the shooting near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, where the Salsa on St. Clair festival was underway.
Police respond to an active shooter at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto. (Photo: AP)
Two people were killed, and several others were wounded in a shooting Saturday near a street festival in Toronto, according to the Associated Press (AP). Police initially warned of an active shooter and later confirmed the scene had been secured.
Toronto police said six people were shot after the shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival, Toronto. Officers had urged the public to steer clear of the area while they responded to the scene.
Police hold back crowds as they respond to an active shooter at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto. (Photo: AP)
The AP reported that police later said the area had been secured, though no details on a suspect or any arrests had been released at that time. Security was beefed up in the area.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a post on X that he was “horrified” by the deadly shooting at the busy Toronto festival. “My prayers are with the families grieving their loved ones … and everyone who has been affected by this horrific event,” Carney wrote.
I am horrified by the shooting that has killed two people at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival in Toronto.
My prayers are with the families grieving their loved ones, those who are in critical condition, and everyone who has been affected by this horrific event.
Salsa on St. Clair is a Latino-themed cultural festival held in Toronto.
Valerie Rodriguez said she was sitting near a restaurant on Saturday night when she saw people screaming and running. She said a group of people told them to get down on the floor, and that the uncertainty over what was happening left them frightened.
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A paramedic walks towards the scene of a shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto. (Photo: AP)
The AP also cited Patsy Gutierrez, a vendor at the festival, who said she was serving customers when she saw a large wave of people running. She said everyone grew frantic and vendors stopped serving, adding that this kind of violence shouldn’t happen at these types of events.
A large police presence remained near the festival, which AP described as an annual celebration of Latin American culture that draws thousands of people to Toronto’s St. Clair West neighbourhood for live music, dancing, food, and cultural performances.
Police respond to an active shooter at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto. (Photo: AP)
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a social media post that he was devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival, which claimed two lives and injured others, and that his thoughts were with the victims, their families, and everyone affected.
Toronto, Canada’s largest city, ranks among North America’s safest major cities, and that fatal shootings involving multiple victims in public are relatively rare there.
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Police respond to an active shooter at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto. (Photo: AP) 
