Following a mass shooting in Toronto’s popular Greektown neighbourhood, Mayor John Tory has vowed to address the city’s “gun problem.” Here is a timeline of the city’s shootings since the beginning of summer.
Click here for full-screen version of map
Since the official start of summer began on June 21, there have been at least 40 shooting incidents in Toronto.
The spike in gun violence, including a mass shooting in the city’s busy Greektown neighbourhood on July 23, has killed at least nine people and injured as many as nine others. Many of the shootings have taken place in busy areas of the city in broad daylight, such as an attack in the entertainment district on a Saturday evening and another in Kensington Market, an area popular with tourists.
Shooting deaths have accounted for 30 of the city’s 59 murders in 2018 so far. For comparison, by the end of June 2017, there were 16 gun deaths.
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders has called the attackers' “brazenness” a cause for concern. However, he has also said the majority of shootings in the city are typically linked to gang violence and that the average person shouldn’t be concerned for their safety walking down the street.
In June, Toronto Mayor John Tory attempted to reassure residents by calling Toronto one of the “safest cities,” However, following the attack in Greektown, Tory admitted the city was grappling with a “gun problem” and said he was outraged by the recent violence.
“Guns are too readily available to too many people,” he told reporters at the scene.
In early July, Tory and Saunders announced a $15 million plan to tackle gun crime in the city. The plan will see additional officers placed in certain neighbourhoods between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. for an eight-week stretch in the summer. The mayor also said the city has hired 170 new officers and would invest in existing community initiatives to prevent gang violence.
Tory has also met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss possible gun control measures. Tory said both Goodale and Ford expressed interest in working together to address the problem and Trudeau also offered his support for the city.
The mayor also said Toronto is in the process of applying for federal funding that is available to municipalities through the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
Here is a timeline of shootings in Toronto since June 21, 2018:
1) June 24
Two men were shot and killed inside of a home located near Lightwood Drive and Sanagan Road in Etobicoke early in the morning. Read story
2) June 24
A 31-year-old woman was gunned down in a drive-by shooting near the area of Replin Road and Old Meadow Lane in North York. The woman was sitting in a vehicle with three friends on her way home from a funeral when she was hit. Read story
3) June 25
A man believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s was shot and killed inside of an apartment building in the area of Sherbourne Street and Dundas Street East in the early morning. Toronto police have arrested and charged two men with first-degree murder in the death. Read story
4) June 28
A male arrived at a hospital in the area of Jane Street and Lawrence Avenue West with a gunshot wound to his foot.
5) June 29
A 21-year-old woman is facing a slew of charges after police allege she shot a pedestrian and cyclist in the city’s Moss Park neighbourhood. Police said the suspect took a shotgun from the trunk of her vehicle and shot at the two victims, who sustained non-life threatening injuries. Read story
6) June 29
A motorist noticed the back windshield of another vehicle was shattered while driving on the Gardiner Expressway and reported it. An investigation led police officers to Spadina Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard where they discovered shell casings.
7) June 30
A brazen daylight shooting in Toronto’s Entertainment District left two men dead and another woman injured. The shooting took place near Queen Street West and Peter Street during the Saturday dinner rush. Read story
8) June 30
A teenage boy was transported to hospital after he collapsed from a gunshot wound behind a church near Jane Street and Heathrow Drive in the Downsview area. It’s unclear where the boy was shot before he arrived at the church. Read story
9) June 30
Police are searching for a 16-year-old boy who they allege was “playing with a firearm” in his bedroom before the gun went off. The bullet travelled through a wall and into his sibling’s room. It was later discovered lodged in a mattress. Read press release
10) June 30
Multiple shots were fired in a home located near Orpington Crescent near Kipling Avenue and Albion Road in the city’s Jamestown neighbourhood. There were no reported injuries, but police said they found bullet casings at the scene. Read story
11) July 1
One man died and three others were injured in a brazen shooting in the city’s bustling Kensington Market neighbourhood on Canada Day. Read story
12) July 3
A man believed to be in his late twenties was seriously injured after he was shot in Toronto’s Fashion District in the early morning hours. The man suffered a bullet wound to the hip in what police said may have been a drive-by shooting. Read story
13) July 4
Police attended to the scene of a robbery in the area of Markham Road and Blakemanor Boulevard in Scarborough where they found a vehicle with a bullet hole in it. There were no reported injuries.
14) July 4
On Wednesday morning, police discovered two bullet holes in a window of a building near Grandravine Drive and Jane Street. However, there were no reports of any injuries.
15) July 8
A 25-year-old man was shot to death in a parking lot located near Driftwood Avenue and Jane Street in North York. Police said they believe the early-morning shooting was a targeted attack.
16) July 8
Officers found a bullet hole in a window following a shooting near Starspray Boulevard and Lawrence Avenue East in Scarborough’s West Rouge neighbourhood. They were no reports of any injuries.
17) July 9
A 39-year-old man died at the scene of a shooting at Shoreham Court in the city’s Black Creek neighbourhood, according to police. Read story
18) July 9
Police said they discovered a bullet hole in the window of a door near Trehorne Drive and Tallon Road in Etobicoke on Monday evening. They also found a bullet casing at the scene. There were no reports of any injuries.
19) July 9
A 22-year-old man was shot in the city’s The Annex neighbourhood in the area of Madison and Bernard Avenues during a meeting between four people. Police said the victim and two friends met with an unknown male in an alley before he was shot.
After the shooting, the victim and a female friend fled in a car and struck a pedestrian and a tree nearby. Two people have been charged with a number of offenses in connection to the case. Read story
20) July 10
Police responded to a report of a shooting near Clayhall Crescent and Gabello Crescent in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood. Police said a wall was damaged, but there were no reports of any injuries.
21) July 11
Police said they investigated reports of three to four gunshots heard in the area of Lower Jarvis Street and The Esplanade in the city’s downtown. There were no reports of any injuries. Read press release
22) July 11
Police said there was a shooting in the Scarborough Bluffs area. A man walked into a hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Read police tweet.
23) July 14
Police attended to the scene of a shooting in the area of Dixon Road and Blackfriar Avenue in Etobicoke at approximately 1 a.m. The victim was taken to hospital and Peel Regional Police are now investigating.
24) July 17
Two men were seriously injured in the area of Parkwoods Village and Combermere Drives after shots were fired at a building in Toronto’s Parkwoods neighbourhood. Police said one victim suffered a gunshot wound to his leg while the other one was treated for a wound to a finger. Both of the men were expected to survive, but one of them may have suffered “life-altering” injuries. Read story
25) July 18
Police responded to a shooting at Birchmount Road and Timberbank Road in Scarborough near a shopping plaza. Officers discovered bullet holes in a car and shell casings in the area. Police said an occupant in one vehicle started firing shots at another car in the area. There were no reports of any injuries. Read story
26) July 19
Police received a report of a shooting on Ernest Avenue, near Highway 404 and Finch Avenue East, in Toronto’s Pleasant View neighbourhood. Investigators found shell casings in the area. There were no reports of any injuries.
27) July 19
A man believed to be in his twenties was transported to hospital with serious injuries after he was shot in the leg in a building in the area of Eglinton Avenue West and Dynevor Road in Toronto’s Fairbank neighbourhood. Police said the victim was conscious and breathing when they found him. Read story
28) July 19
Police were called to the scene of a shooting near Thorncliffe Park Drive and Overlea Boulevard in the city’s Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood shortly after 11 p.m. that night. Officers discovered shell casings in the area and said a vehicle that fled the scene was involved in the incident. There were no reports of any injuries. Read story
29) July 21
Police received a report of a shooting in the area of Lawrence Avenue East and McCowan Road in the city’s east end in the early morning hours.
30) July 21
Police attended the scene of a shooting near York University in the area of Keele Street and York Boulevard in North York.
31) July 22
Police were called to the scene of a shooting in the area of Lawrence Avenue East and Port Union Road in Scarborough.
32) July 22
Three people were killed, including the suspected shooter, and 13 others were injured following a brazen mass shooting in the city’s bustling Greektown area. A lone gunman is suspected of opening fire at groups of people mingling in restaurants lining Danforth Avenue, near Logan Avenue, before 10 p.m. that evening. Read story
33) July 23
A man was transported to hospital with serious injuries following a shooting in the city’s west end. Police arrived at the scene of a shooting in the city’s west end at Rustic Road and Maidstone Avenue in the area of Jane Street and Maple Leaf Drive where investigators found shell casings. Read story
34) July 25
A man in his 20s is dead after he was shot while driving in the city's Humber-Summit neighbourhood shortly after 11 a.m. Police aren't sure whether he died as a result of his gunshot wounds or from injuries from the car crash. Read story
35) July 28
Two men are arrested and charged after police respond to a call about a person with a gun in Etobicoke. They allege an altercation took place in which a firearm was discharged into a group of people. No one was injured. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was seized. Read press release
36) July 31
A 22-year-old man found with a single gunshot wound in the parking lot of a west-end plaza in the morning later dies in hospital. A witness says he heard shots ring out that morning. Police say they believe the victim and a suspect or suspects were involved in some type of exchange prior to the shooting. Read story
37) Aug. 1
Gunfire east of the Don Valley Parkway near Dundas Street East sends a male victim to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Multiple gunshots were heard in the area around 9 pm. Read story
38) Aug. 4
Police investigate after 2 to 5 shots were heard in the area. No injuries were reported.
39) Aug. 4
Police investigate after 5 shots were heard in the area and shell casings were found on the scene. No injuries were reported.
40) Aug. 6
Police investigate after 6 shots were heard and a dark vehicle was seen in the area. Police also found shell casings. No injuries were reported.
41) Aug. 7
Four gunshots were heard and shell casings were located in the area of Holland Avenue and Victoria Park. No injuries were reported. A red vehicle was seen in the area.
42) Aug. 7
One person was taken into custody after 10 gunshots were heard in the area of Bellamy Road North and Ellesmere Road.
