Toronto police search for two suspects after fatal shooting in Etobicoke
The victim, believed to be in his teens or early 20s, was pronounced dead in hospital after being found with gunshot wounds.
TORONTO · A young man has died after a shooting in Etobicoke on Saturday afternoon. Toronto police are searching for two male suspects seen wearing dark clothing. Officers were called to the area of Rathburn Road and The East Mall shortly before 4:30 p.m. after reports of a shooting. They found a victim suffering from gunshot wounds at the scene.
The victim was transported to a trauma centre in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead, police said. Inspector Jeff Allington told reporters at the scene that the victim was believed to have been in his teens or his 20s. He said he did not know the victim's exact age and that officers did not yet have an identification or an address for him. Life-saving measures were performed before the victim was rushed to the hospital, Allington added.
The investigation has been taken over by the homicide unit and is in its early stages. "The only description I have in terms of suspects is that they are two male suspects wearing dark clothing," Allington said. Police said they are looking for at least two suspects last seen wearing dark clothing. "We understand that an event like this can be very traumatic for the community and the members that reside and work in the area," Allington said. "We want to assure you that we are also concerned about this and we will be having extra officers out in the neighbourhood for the next few hours and probably tomorrow during the day as well as we continue on this investigation." He said officers would be canvassing the neighbourhood Saturday night and likely again on Sunday.
Valerie Machuca, who operates a nearby business, said she heard multiple gunshots in two separate rounds. "It was very traumatizing because it was at first probably eight-to-10 shots, and then two or three minutes after, another round of eight-to-10 shots again," she said. The East Mall was closed northbound at Rathburn Road for the investigation on Saturday evening. Allington said the investigation is in its very early stages and asked for public assistance. "We’re in the very early stages of this investigation, and you can expect to see officers out canvassing in the neighbourhood," Allington said. "We’re asking anybody that was in the area if they could provide any assistance to us whatsoever by checking any video cameras that they may have had at home or reporting any suspicious activity to police."
With files from CBC News, CityNews and CP24