‘Something is going on’ in Eglinton East area
Eight shootings over past month in neighbourhood
Toronto police are raising alarms over a rash of gun violence over the past month in the Eglinton East area after two people were injured late Thursday night.
The latest shooting happened at about 9:30 p.m. outside a pub/restaurant near Danforth Road and Savarin Street, just north of Eglinton Avenue East, police said.
The two victims, a teenager and a man, were found a few blocks away from each other when police arrived. Both suffered serious injuries but are expected to survive.
Three teens from Toronto were arrested. A shotgun and a semi-automatic handgun were seized after an eight-kilometre police chase, which ended near Neilson Avenue and Highway 401 after the driver of a white SUV lost control and crashed.
The suspects “showed no regard for human safety,” said Supt. Dave Rydzik, unit commander of 43 Division, adding there were many people at the intersection where the shooting took place.
Rydzik said eight shootings have taken place the past month within a one-kilometre radius of Thursday’s gunfire. Fortunately, many of those shootings only resulted in property damage.
The violence prompted an increased police presence in the area, which led to the quick arrest after the latest shooting.
“Our officers heard the shots before the call went out,” Rydzik told reporters, and added that police were there so quickly they saw the suspect vehicle leaving the scene.
Rydzik said there is nothing to indicate a turf war is taking place in the neighbourhood. But with eight shootings, not including the one Thursday,
“something is going on” and police won’t leave any stone unturned in their investigation, Rydzik said.
He praised the co-operation from the community as police investigate. He said the violence in the area is personal to him, as he grew up and started his career not too far from there.
The teens each face 12 to 14 charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons-related offences.
“What makes a child under the age of 18 want to pick up a gun,” Rydzik said. “It’s extremely concerning where they think that someone under that age find it necessary to pick it up and possess and use it.”
Rydzik said it is too early to say whether the shootings are connected to the death near the same intersection of John Wheeler, 45, who was gunned down on Aug. 12 while waiting for a ride to work.
Meanwhile, another shooting took place in Toronto on Thursday night. Just before 11:40 p.m., a gunman in a car opened fire at a man in another vehicle near Keele Street Highway 401.
One man was struck and taken to hospital with a serious injury.