A dozen people were injured in a shooting at the pub in Eastern Toronto in what the police called the reckless act of violence of three men who entered the bar and fired randomly without warning.
Superintendent Paul Macintyre of Toronto Police Service said the police have received numerous emergency calls reported by a shooting at Piper Arms around 10:40 pm on Friday.
A preliminary investigation found that three men had entered the pub and started shooting on customers, Macintyre said during a press conference at the scene. There were no immediate arrests.
“One male was armed with what seemed like an offensive rifle, the other two males were armed with guns, and they entered the bar, produced their rifles and unleelned in the fire on people sitting inside,” Macintyre said, adding that there were no deaths.
Christopher Katsarov / AP
Police arrived at the scene and found 12 people suffering from various injuries. The victims were transported to local hospitals, and six were confirmed that they had wounds from firearms that were not life -threatening, Macintyre said, calling victims “extremely happy”. The remaining six victims were injured by flying and broken glass.
The motive was not immediately clear, Macintyre said, calling the shooting “courage and reckless act of violence that really shaken our community and the city itself.”
Macintyre said he and other officers were “terrified” by what they saw in a security video. “These guys just looked at the ground and opened the fire,” he said.
Arlyn McADorey / AP
Shortly after the shooting, the police said the suspect was carried by a black bayatlave was seen running away in a silver car and was still at large after the shooting. People were warned to keep away from the area.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she talked to police chief Myron Demkiw and told her that “all the resources needed” were arranged.
“This is a wound and a current investigation – the police will provide further details,” Chow wrote on social networks. “My thoughts are with victims and their families.”
