Terror in Toronto

One killed, 14 injured, as twisted gunman goes on rampage

A GUNMAN went on a shooting rampage at a busy Toronto restaurant strip yesterday, killing one person and injuring up to 14 others, including a little girl.

The shooter, who is yet to be identified, is believed to have acted alone in an attack which authorities said was “not a random shooting”.

A matter of hours after the incident, which happened about 10pm Sunday local time (11.30am Monday ACST), witnesses shared video of the terrifying moment the lone man pulled the trigger in the city’s Greektown.

The footage was shot from a nearby balcony and showed a man, dressed from head to toe in all-black, walking quickly down a footpath on the busy Danforth Avenue.

He then drew a pistol as he turned towards a shop front.

Witnesses said he continued firing shots as he moved on from the initial spot, with victims seen scattered across several blocks.

Toronto’s chief of police Mark Saunders told reporters an officer confronted the man and began shooting.

The gunman was killed in the exchange, althoug it was unclear last night whether he died from wounds inflicted by the officer or himself.

One person, a woman, was declared deceased while a young girl, believed to be about eight, is still in a critical condition.

Mayor John Tory said at a press conference that “people should not reach any conclusions” as to the motive of the attack because “police themselves have not yet drawn any conclusions”.

“Yes, we have a gun problem,” Mayor Tory added. “Guns are too readily available to too many people.”

He didn’t rule out the possibility the killer was motivated by terror. “This was not a random shooting,” he said.

The scene of the attack is about 14.5km from Yonge St, where a motorist went on a ramming rampage on April 23, which left 10 people dead and another 15 people injured.

Alek Minassian, 25, will face multiple murder and attempted murder charges in relation to that attack when he reappears in court on September 14.