Police are searching for three suspects after a shooting at a pub in Toronto, Canada, left 12 people injured late Friday night.
The attack occurred at 10:39 p.m. local time (03:39 GMT Saturday) near Scarborough City Centre in eastern Toronto. Authorities reported that six people suffered gunshot wounds, while others were injured by shattered glass and debris. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
Toronto police said three armed men entered the pub and “opened fire indiscriminately” using an assault rifle and handguns.
“This was a brazen and reckless act of violence that’s really shaken our community and the city itself,” Police Superintendent Paul MacIntyre stated.
The suspects remain at large, and police are deploying all available resources to track them down. Witnesses reported seeing one suspect, wearing a black balaclava, fleeing the scene in a silver car.
Authorities have yet to determine a motive. “Right now, it remains unclear, and we’re chasing down all leads,” MacIntyre said.
Police reviewed security footage of the attack and described it as “horrifying.”
“These guys just looked at the crowd and opened fire. It was horrible,” MacIntyre said.
The gunfire shattered glass walls, leaving “blood all over the floor,” including in the basement, where some patrons had fled for cover.
The victims ranged in age from their 20s to mid-50s. “By the grace of God, there have been no fatalities,” MacIntyre said, calling it “extremely lucky.”
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her concern on social media, writing, “Deeply troubled to hear reports of a shooting at a pub in Scarborough. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
The number of injuries in this shooting is high compared to other incidents in the area this year. In 2023, eight people were injured and two killed in shootings in the same police division. Citywide, 43 people were fatally shot in Toronto last year.
Canada has a significantly lower firearm homicide rate than the United States. According to 2021 data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Canada’s rate is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.5 per 100,000 in the U.S.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
