Toronto starts 2014 with 2 early-morning shootings

The new year got off to a violent start in Toronto as two people were wounded in a pair of early-morning shootings Wednesday.

Just hours into 2014, a 24-year-old man suffered serious injuries when he was shot in the chest at a gathering at a North York restaurant, paramedics and police said.

Police said the man was shot inside the Hickory House Restaurant on McNicoll Avenue, west of Victoria Park Avenue, at about 4:30 a.m. and the gunfire continued outside the restaurant as people fled.

One or two vehicles were hit by gunfire but the man was the only person who was wounded, police told CTV Toronto reporter Tamara Cherry.

The man's friends loaded him into a black car and were attempting to take him to a hospital when they were involved in a crash at Brimley Road and Lawrence Avenue East, about 10 kilometres from the shooting scene.

Police said the car was heading east on Lawrence when it collided with a sport utility vehicle that was heading north on Brimley.

Investigators believe the car's female driver was speeding and they are looking into whether alcohol was a factor.

The gunshot victim and the female driver were rushed to hospital with Sunnybrook hospital with serious and possibly life-threatening injuries, while three others are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

As police gathered evidence at the crash scene, officers were collecting evidence at the shooting scene at the restaurant, where shell casings were visible on the ground outside.

Police have not released a description of the suspect or suspects but they are reviewing surveillance video from the interior of the restaurant and they want to hear from anyone who was present when the shooting occurred.

Investigators believe about 200 people were inside the restaurant when shots rang out.

Earlier shooting linked to robbery

Earlier in the morning, emergency personnel were called to Carr Street, near Bathurst and Queen streets, after a man was shot in the foot.

Police said the shooting occurred at about 3:30 a.m. and is linked to the robbery of a business.

The victim, who is believed to be in his 20s, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, paramedics said.