Two people were killed and four others wounded in a shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival in Toronto on Saturday evening, authorities said, as police continued searching for a suspect or suspects in connection with the violence.
The shooting was reported at 8:12 p.m. near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, where the Salsa on St. Clair festival was underway, drawing an estimated 13,000 attendees. The incident began as an exchange of gunfire between individuals targeting each other, according to Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo. While police initially issued an active shooter warning as a precaution, officials later clarified that the situation involved an exchange of gunfire rather than a traditional active shooter scenario.
Both victims killed in the shooting were men. One was pronounced dead at the scene, while another died later at a hospital. Four additional victims were taken to area hospitals, all in serious condition. Paramedics reported that one of the hospitalized patients had life-threatening injuries. Police recovered two firearms from the scene and identified three separate crime scenes in the immediate area.
No arrests had been made by late Saturday night, and the exact number of suspects involved remained unknown. Police cautioned that one or more suspects remained at large. Deputy Chief Barredo acknowledged the complexity of the investigation, stating that investigators would be reviewing substantial video evidence in the coming days. Officials could not immediately determine whether any of the suspects were among the victims.
The violence erupted during the Salsa on St. Clair festival, a two-day celebration of Latin American culture that is among Canada’s largest Latin street festivals. The event features live music, dancing, authentic cuisine, and cultural performances and has been held annually for 22 years. The festival was originally scheduled to run through Sunday but was essentially shut down following the shooting.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as festival attendees fled the area. One witness reported hearing what sounded like muffled powerful fireworks before observing people screaming and running. Another attendee described people trampling over each other as they scrambled to escape. A vendor at the festival said she was serving customers when she saw a huge wave of people fleeing, and everyone became frantic before staff stopped serving food.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her anger over the violence, particularly because the festival attracts families and children. “I’m deeply disturbed and angry about this reckless and irresponsible act of violence right in the middle of a festival,” she said at a news conference. “This was a reckless, despicable act of violence at a crowded festival.” She thanked first responders and pledged to ensure police have the resources needed to find those responsible.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also condemned the shooting in a social media post, saying he was devastated by the violence. “The senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed two lives and injured others,” Ford said, adding his thoughts were with the victims and families affected by the incident.
Deputy Mayor Mike Colle described the shooting as gangster violence. Police urged the public to avoid the area while a large law enforcement presence remained at the festival site as the investigation continued.
The shooting stands out in Toronto, a major Canadian city known as one of North America’s safest urban areas. Fatal shootings involving multiple victims in public places remain relatively rare in the city. The violence marked a stark contrast to the festive atmosphere that had characterized the festival earlier in the day, when thousands of Toronto residents and visitors had gathered to celebrate Latin culture together.