Toronto gunman identified; 2 confirmed dead in shooting

TORONTO — The man responsible for a shooting rampage in Toronto’s Greektown that left two people dead and 13 injured has been identified as Faisal Hussain, Ontario’s police watchdog said Monday evening.

The Special Investigations Unit said Hussain, 29, is from Toronto.

Police have said he was found dead, with a gunshot wound, after exchanging fire with officers during the incident on Danforth Avenue on Sunday night.

The SIU said it identified the man after talking with a member of his immediate family and confirming his identity.

An autopsy for Hussain is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Toronto, the SIU said.

An 18-year-old woman who was aspiring to be a nurse and a 10year-old girl have been identified as the two people killed in the incident.

Authorities have said they don’t know what motivated the attack but haven’t ruled out any possibility. They have been calling on members of the public to share any information they may have on the shooter and the incident.

“We do not know why this happened yet,” Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters on Monday.

“The investigation itself is very fluid, it is very new, it’s going to take some time.”

The man’s death is being probed by the SIU, which looks into all deadly police-involved incidents.

On Monday afternoon, several blocks along Danforth were surrounded by yellow police tape and nearly all businesses were closed.

Mourners began placing bouquets of flowers at one major intersection and quietly discussing the tragedy.

Mayor John Tory called the shooting an “unspeakable” act and said the time had come to confront the rising prevalence of guns in the city, which has experienced a spike in shootings in recent weeks.

“Why does anyone in this city need to have a gun at all?” he said.

“I know answering questions like this won’t fully eliminate tragedies like this, but even if we can prevent one of these incidents, then in my view it is a discussion worth having and having very soon.”