Two men were killed and a Toronto woman celebrating her birthday was injured in a shooting at a backyard barbecue early Sunday.
Police say 200 people were at the birthday party in the city’s east end when shots were fired during an altercation early Sunday morning.
The two men pronounced dead at the scene were identified as Rinaldo Cole, 33, and Dwayne Campbell, 30, a father of two. The woman was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, and is now in serious but stable condition.
“I heard two gunshots,” witness Aria Bashir told CTV Toronto. “And then the DJ was like, ‘Hold on, hold on.’ He turned off the music and all I hear was screaming and crying.”
All three victims were known to police, according to Det. Rob North. It is not clear whether they were the intended targets.
North said witnesses from the party have not been co-operating in the investigation and it’s not clear whether the suspects were guests at the party
“There were numerous people here at the party,” North told reporters. “I can tell you that we have had very little co-operation.”
Police have not released any descriptions of the suspects.
According to several neighbours, the area is relatively quiet although the residents of the house do hold a large party every summer.
“These people are not rowdy people,” said Don Shew, a neighbor. “They just host a party, that’s all.”
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward and anyone with backyard surveillance to submit footage to the police.
