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CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Lawrence Heights shooting has ‘shaken all of Toronto,' Olivia Chow says
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow speaks at a National Day to End Gun Violence ceremony at Nathan Phillips Square on Friday. Mayor Olivia Chow says that a shooting in Lawrence Heights earlier this week that killed one person and injured five others 'has shaken all of Toronto.' The shooting took place in the vicinity of Ranee Avenue and Varna Drive, near Yorkdale mall, at around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. Police have previously said that a group of armed suspects walked up to another group of people and opened fire. A 31-year-old man, who was in a wheelchair, was rushed to the hospital in life-threatening condition but later died. Eglinton-Lawrence Coun. Mike Colle previously told CP24 that the victim was left paralyzed from another shooting in 2018. 'This week was a challenging week for our city. As you know the shooting in Lawrence Heights has shaken that community and it has shaken all of Toronto,' Chow said while speaking at a National Day Against Gun Violence ceremony at Nathan Phillips Square on Friday morning. 'I spent some time there to hear from friends of the people that were shot, community members and neighbourhood activists. There was a lot of grief and a lot of trauma. People are afraid in their neighbourhood, they are scared for their kids. But they will not let fear dictate their lives. They believe that change is possible.' The shooting in Lawrence Heights was just the latest high-profile incident of gun violence in this city so far this year. Earlier this week, police held a press conference to announce that they have arrested three people in connection with a March mass shooting at the Piper Arms pub in Scarborough that injured a dozen people. Police also announced seven other arrests in connection with a rash of shootings connected to the tow-truck industry. On Friday, Chow told attendees at the Nathan Phillips Square ceremony that she is 'disappointed' and 'devastated' by the violence. However, she said that she has not given up and has committed to return to the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood within a few weeks to 'work towards peace.' 'The impacts of gun violence is far reaching. It impacts all of us,' she said. So far this year, Toronto police have responded to 106 shootings and firearm discharges, which represents a 44 per cent decrease from this time last year. A total of seven people have been fatally shot in Toronto so far in 2025, with another 47 sustaining various injuries. Police have not yet made any arrests in connection with the Lawrence Heights shooting.
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Toronto mayor says Lawrence Heights residents are ‘traumatized' following deadly shooting
Toronto police say the man killed in a 'brazen' Lawrence Heights shooting Tuesday night – that left five others injured – was in a wheelchair. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow visited Lawrence Heights Thursday morning following a deadly shooting in the neighbourhood and says some residents are 'traumatized.' 'There was a lot of grief, which I completely understand. Losing a loved one, or watching your neighbours being gunned down, traumatized by violence, scared, really scared for their kids,' Chow said alongside Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw after meeting with members of the community. 'It was a difficult conversation, but critically important,' she said. One person was killed and five others were injured Tuesday night when shots rang out at Ranee Avenue and Varna Drive, near Yorkdale mall, where police say armed suspects walked up to a group of people and opened fire. A 31-year-old man, who was in a wheelchair, suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital where he later died. He has not been identified by police. Five other victims, ranging in ages from 17 to 30 years old, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Coun. Mike Colle, who joined Chow and Demkiw in Lawrence Heights on Thursday, previously told CP24 that the deceased was left paralyzed from a separate 2018 shooting. Police say the Tuesday night shooting was targeted and that they're looking for three armed suspects, all of whom are described as males, with slim to average builds, wearing dark clothing and face coverings. Police would not say if the shooting was gang related, but note the investigation is ongoing.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Mayor, police chief to visit Lawrence Heights neighbourhood after man in wheelchair shot dead
Toronto police say the man killed in a 'brazen' Lawrence Heights shooting Tuesday night – that left five others injured – was in a wheelchair. Toronto's mayor and chief of police will visit Lawrence Heights Thursday morning following a deadly shooting in the neighbourhood as a search continues for the suspects. Mayor Olivia Chow's office says she and Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw will meet with residents to discuss community safety after one person was killed and five others were injured Tuesday night. Chow previously said she was 'disturbed' by the incident at Ranee Avenue and Varna Drive, near Yorkdale mall, where police say armed suspects walked up to a group of people and opened fire. A 31-year-old man, who was in a wheelchair, suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital where he later died. He has not been identified by police. Five other victims, ranging in ages from 17 to 30-years-old, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Demkiw called the shooting 'deeply unsettling' at a news conference on Wednesday and underscored that he believes investigators will find the suspects. 'This kind of brazen violence, this disregard for human life, is completely unacceptable,' he said. Coun. Mike Colle, who will join Chow and Demkiw in Lawrence Heights on Thursday, told CP24 that the deceased was left paralyzed in a 2018 shooting. Police say the shooting was targeted and that they're looking for three armed suspects, all of whom are described as males, with slim to average builds, wearing dark clothing and face coverings. Police would not say if the shooting was gang related.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Mayor Chow, Toronto police chief to visit Lawrence Heights following deadly shooting
Police officers work the scene of a shooting in the North York area of Toronto on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey Toronto's mayor and chief of police will visit Lawrence Heights Thursday morning following a deadly shooting in the neighbourhood as a search continues for the suspects. Mayor Olivia Chow's office says she and Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw will meet with residents to discuss community safety after one person was killed and five others were injured Tuesday night. Chow previously said she was 'disturbed' by the incident at Ranee Avenue and Varna Drive, near Yorkdale mall, where police say armed suspects walked up to a group of people and opened fire. A 31-year-old man, who was in a wheelchair, suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital where he later died. He has not been identified by police. Five other victims, ranging in ages from 17 to 30-years-old, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Demkiw called the shooting 'deeply unsettling' at a news conference on Wednesday and underscored that he believes investigators will find the suspects. 'This kind of brazen violence, this disregard for human life, is completely unacceptable,' he said. Coun. Mike Colle, who will join Chow and Demkiw in Lawrence Heights on Thursday, told CP24 that the deceased was left paralyzed in a 2018 shooting. Police say the shooting was targeted and that they're looking for three armed suspects, all of whom are described as males, with slim to average builds, wearing dark clothing and face coverings. Police would not say if the shooting was gang related.
Globe and Mail
05-06-2025
- Globe and Mail
Toronto shooting prompts city-wide response from police, leaves one dead
Police officers across Toronto were dispatched to a shooting on Tuesday night in the city's northwest end which left one person dead and five injured. Police responded to a call at 8:37 p.m. in Lawrence Heights, where they say three suspects approached a cluster of people, shot into the group and then fled the area, in what they called an act of 'brazen violence.' One man, 31, was pronounced dead in the hospital in Toronto's 13th homicide of this year. In a rare occurrence, Toronto police issued what they call a 'city-wide assist' to make sure they had enough resources. Officers from across the city were dispatched, except those already involved on other urgent calls. A city-wide assist is infrequent, happening about once a year or less, Toronto police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer said. 'Due to the chaotic nature of the incident, additional officers were called in to help secure the area, assist victims, and support the investigation,' she said in an e-mailed response to questions. She said there were reports of bystanders 'interfering with first responders as they attempted to render first aid and secure the scene.' Toronto police didn't say how many officers were dispatched. City councillor Mike Colle, deputy mayor for North York, estimates he saw about 30 vehicles, motorcycles and about 50 police officers on the scene. He said some of the bystanders were traumatized, and anxiously waiting for the paramedics to arrive. The ambulances 'were having some difficulty finding the location and that was the cause of the frustration.' Outside Yorkdale Station the next day, as subway cars rattled overhead, police forensic identification services left the scene. As passersby exited the subway station, many took photos of the crime scene with their phones. Droplets of blood had dried on the cement. At least six police cars were parked around a nearby apartment complex as residents spoke with officers. A group gathered around the entrance to the apartment complex to share their stories. One woman complained that she hadn't slept since the events took place. Many residents said they first heard about the shooting on the news, or that the crack of gunshots startled them as they settled down for the evening. However, most said they were still too shaken by the events to comment. Police arrest three suspects linked to mass shooting at Toronto pub 'It's really discouraging and disheartening for the people who live here,' Mr. Colle said. Over the past three or four years, 'we've really seen a real decline in the violence and the shooting and so forth, and then all of a sudden this happens and just destroys all the good work that's been going on here for the last number of years.' The man who was shot and died, 31, was in a wheelchair, according to police. Mr. Colle said the man had been paralyzed owing to a gunshot wound in 2018 and had been in a wheelchair since then. 'To have that done twice in a lifetime is beyond belief.' Toronto Paramedic Services said they dispatched six ambulances, one response vehicle and two paramedic supervisors. The other victims, whose ages range from 17 to 30, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe this was a targeted shooting, though it's too early to say whether it was gang-related, Detective Sergeant Tiffany Castell said at a press conference at police headquarters on Wednesday. 'We're looking at every avenue,' she said.
