A deadly shooting in Toronto’s Lawrence Heights has left one dead, five injured. Police are hunting multiple suspects as the investigation unfolds.
A peaceful evening turned tragic in Toronto’s Lawrence Heights on Tuesday night, as a shooting incident left one man dead and five others injured. Toronto Police have launched a manhunt for multiple suspects following the incident, which occurred near Flemington and Zachary Roads, close to Ranee Avenue and Allen Road.
Emergency crews responded to the distress call around 8:30 p.m., finding multiple victims with gunshot wounds in an alley between a high-rise building and Allen Road.
Victims and Response: Police Confirm One Fatality
Duty Senior Officer Baheer Sarvanandan confirmed the fatality of a man in his 40s at the scene. Five others — four men and one woman — were rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“This was a large and complex scene,” said Sarvanandan, adding that there are multiple suspects outstanding, though their method of escape remains unknown. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the attackers fled on foot or by vehicle.
Despite the scale of the event, Sarvanandan assured residents that “there’s no risk to public safety” at this time.
Crime Scene Spreads Beyond the Alleyway
While the shooting began in the alley, Sarvanandan said secondary scenes were also discovered nearby, indicating the victims may have moved or sought help after the initial gunfire.
Police are canvassing the area for witnesses and surveillance footage, with a command post set up near Ranee Avenue and Flemington Road. No firearms have been recovered as of the latest update.
Eyewitness Accounts Paint a Chaotic Picture
Several residents described the scene as both loud and terrifying. One man, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he was in his bedroom when he heard “10 to 20 gunshots.”
“It just was so loud that it came through,” he said. From his balcony, he observed cars speeding away and described the alley below as full of “puddles of blood” and people “yelling and screaming.”
Video footage shared by another resident shows individuals lying injured on the ground while others try to help. One person said the gunfire happened so quickly, he initially thought it was fireworks.
City Leaders React to the Violence
Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her concern, saying she is “disturbed” by the incident. “I want to thank the first responders — Toronto Police, Fire and Paramedic services — for your work on a very busy and challenging scene,” she said.
Councillor Mike Colle, who represents the affected ward, described the shooting as “a wild, wild west scene.” He added:
“It’s very, very upsetting to see this happen because we’ve had peace and quiet up here in Lawrence Heights for the last number of years.”
This is an ongoing investigation. As more details come to light, Maple News Wire will bring you the latest verified updates and community responses.
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