Two groups in ‘altercation’ before shots fired at Yorkdale
TORONTO — Police are seeking two suspects after shots were fired following an altercation between at least six men at Yorkdale Mall, Toronto police said Thursday afternoon.
No one was injured by gunfire in the incident, police said, but two people were hurt in the scramble to exit the mall, one sustaining a leg injury, the other sustaining an injury to their arm. Police said they were minor.
“There was an altercation between two groups of men. At some point, one of the individuals, from one of the groups, discharged a firearm at least twice, a handgun,” said Supt. Rob Johnson with the Toronto Police.
There were at least three men in each group, he said.
Police have now secured the entire mall, and officers are canvassing inside for evidence, he said.
The incident occurred in the south-east corner of the shopping centre, Johnson said, “close to the security office, near the Starbucks.”
The suspects fled in a southeast direction after the shots were fired, he said, which is in the direction of the TTC.
Officers are going through video evidence to look for descriptions of the suspects, he added.
Toronto police tweeted earlier that one person was taken from the shopping centre by paramedics, but their injuries were not a direct result of the shots fired.
Carolina Toca, who works in the mall, was walking near Nordstrom when she heard three or four shots fired around 2:50 p.m.
“Everyone started to run like crazy,” she said.
The Nordstrom is neighbours with the Starbucks that police said the shooting occurred by.
She ran to a store nearby where she said she was locked in with about 15 other people.
She was then evacuated from the building by mall security.
“Everyone is OK, it’s just like a lot of confusion.”
Maven Sekhon, who had gone to Yorkdale for a work lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, said when she saw people running past her, she initially didn’t think much of it.
“We saw pretty much everyone running and as they got closer they seemed more and more terrified, so we started running and were about to hide in Joey but decided to run toward the exit instead,” Sekhon told the Star over Twitter.
She said she heard that there were four gunshots on the other side of the mall.
“It’s terrifying because we were almost in the area of the shooting ... less than five (minutes) before it happened,” Sekhon said.
“We’re still contacting family and letting them know we’re safe and on our way home.”
Employees and customers who had left their belongings inside the stores and were unable to go back can call 416-256-5097 to make arrangements with Yorkdale Shopping Centre security in order to get their things, police tweeted.
Those with vehicles in the underground parking lot were allowed to start retrieving their vehicles just before 5:30 p.m.
Police released two suspect descriptions shortly after the shooting.
The first suspect was described as a black male in his 20s, wearing a hoodie and blue jeans.
The second suspect was described as mixed race male in his 20s, with a skinny build and standing about five-foot-nine, carrying a black handgun.
Although at least six men were involved, there are no further descriptions at this time, Johnson said.