Two dead, four critically injured in shooting at Toronto salsa festival

A personal dispute turned into a gunfight at a festival drawing thousands; police recovered two firearms at the scene.

Two dead, four critically injured in shooting at Toronto salsa festival

Two people were killed and four others critically wounded on Saturday at Toronto’s Salsa on St. Clair Festival, a popular event that draws thousands of attendees. According to Frank Barredo, deputy chief of the city’s police, the incident began as a gunfight between two individuals. Officers initially feared a mass shooting, but early information pointed instead to a targeted confrontation.

Investigators recovered two firearms at the scene. Police said the two armed men involved put a large crowd at risk in a venue frequented by families, children, and seniors.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X that he was shocked by the deadly violence at the festival. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called it an “act of reckless violence” that left her deeply shaken and outraged.

As of the start of the press conference, no suspect had been arrested, the Guardian reported. Witness Valerie Rodriguez told the paper she was sitting outside a nearby restaurant when she suddenly noticed people screaming and running. “A bunch of people… told us to get down on the ground,” she recalled. “We got scared because we didn’t know exactly what was happening.”

The Guardian noted that Toronto is considered one of the safest large cities in North America, where fatal shootings are relatively uncommon.

Source: 24.hu

Source: 24.hu