One dead after triple shooting
Two victims, a woman and a man in their 30s, both have non-life-threatening injuries
A 30-year-old man is dead after a triple shooting near Queen and Portland streets early Thursday.
Toronto police said three people were shot in front of an establishment just after 2:30 a.m. Two other victims, a 36-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, both have nonlife-threatening injuries.
The homicide victim was identified Thursday evening as Ibrahim Abdikarim of Toronto.
“Any time you have somebody with a firearm openly shooting in the middle of a crowded roadway, there’s obviously concerns (about) safety and violence in the city,” Det. Sgt. Trevor Grieve told reporters at the scene in Toronto’s Fashion District on Thursday morning. He went on to say it’s too early to know whether the violence was targeted or random, but added: “For the residents here, I don’t believe there’s any safety concerns for them.”
The detective explained that the shooting happened on the sidewalk around the southeast corner of the intersection, after which people scrambled inside nearby establishments for safety. The suspect drove off in a dark, two-door sedan, he added, and the relationship between the victims and the suspect is not known right now.
“I believe the vehicle involved was just coming to and from the scene itself,” Grieve said.
Sabena Singh, who’s from Winnipeg and visiting her daughter who lives across the street from the scene, said she was woken up last night to the sound of five gunshots.
“There were two … then there was a pause and there were three more but faster,” Singh said. She added: “When I think of this sort of open violence, I think of the States.”
Sahar Delmoradi, who opened 5S Cafe around the corner on Denison Avenue about five months ago, said there have been three other shootings or gun-related incidents in the area since she opened shop.
“I don’t get scared easily. But I’m worried,” Delmoradi said. “I’m a single mom with three kids. If something happens to us, who’s going to answer to that?”
Grieve said the families of the deceased have been notified, but they are still in the process of notifying additional family members.
“We’re seeking the public’s assistance to speak with any witnesses who may have been here last night. There was a large group of people here in some of the local establishments,” he said.