Police seek public’s help after shooting near Yorkdale

More than 30 shots fired in the latest incident of gang-related gun violence

Toronto’s police chief is pleading for the public’s help after an overnight shooting in the Glen Park neighbourhood sent four people to hospital — the 20th such incident since Aug. 3 and the 275th shooting in the city so far this year.

Chief Mark Saunders warned that retribution can be expected for this incident and that “hundreds” more gang-related shootings can be expected before the end of the year.

“The unfortunate piece is that there will be more people that will be shot,” Saunders told reporters at a Saturday news conference.

He’s asking people in the community to report anything suspicious in their areas and to be proactive rather than “wait for a crime to happen.”

The 20 incidents since Aug. 3 include a daytime shooting in East York on Friday that killed one man and injured another person.

Saunders said gang activity is to blame for the recent gun violence, including Saturday’s shooting around 1 a.m. near Marlee and Glencairn Aves., in the area of the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Police said three suspects opened fire on a group of people while a driver waited for them in a dark-coloured sedan. One of the victims was a bystander, Saunders said, “who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

More than 30 shots were fired and part of the shooting was caught on video.

One of the three other victims returned fire, and one had served time for two previous firearm-related convictions. Police would not confirm if this was the same person, but added that all four victims were not co-operating.

None of the men had lifethreatening injuries. One victim drove himself to hospital. Officers found another hiding in a nearby portable toilet.

Saturday’s shooting comes one day after the Ontario government announced it would spend $3 million to more than double the amount of closedcircuit TV cameras in Toronto to try and curb the gun violence.

There has also been a $3-million commitment from the city to hire 200 new officers; a recent gun buyback program offering between $200 to $350 per gun turned in; $25 million from the provincial government for policing over four years, of which a large chunk is allocated for legal “SWAT” teams in courthouses; $11 million from the federal government to the province for guns and gangs initiatives; plus $6.8 million to the city for community programs (the city requested more than $30 million).