Full story
Salsa on St. Clair Shooting
A shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival in Toronto killed two people and injured multiple others after police received reports of an active shooter near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue around 8:12 p.m. local time on Saturday, July 11.
“We have confirmed two males are deceased (one on scene and one at hospital)”
Toronto Police Department said, “We have confirmed two males are deceased (one on scene and one at hospital),” and a TPD spokesperson added that “Four were taken to hospital with serious injuries due to gunshot wounds.”
Toronto Police Service Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said there was “an exchange of gunfire between individuals targeting each other,” and police recovered two firearms at the scene.
NPR reported Barredo told reporters that police were working through at least three crime scenes and that at least 13,000 people were attending the festival when the shooting occurred.
CBC reported that Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw promised police would be “relentless in our pursuit of those responsible,” as the city’s festivalgoers described “sheer panic” during the shooting.
Officials, witnesses, and fallout
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she was “deeply disturbed and angry about this reckless, irresponsible act of violence right in the middle of a festival,” and CBC quoted her as part of a broader wave of reactions across levels of government.
At a news conference, Barredo described the situation as “very chaotic” and said police were managing three separate crime scenes connected to the shooting.
Witness Valerie Rodriguez told the AP, “We got scared because we didn’t know exactly what was happening,” while festival vendor Patsy Gutierrez said she saw “a huge wave” of people fleeing.
Organizers said they were “shocked and deeply saddened” and that “Due to the complex police investigation at the scene, we understand that the festival will not resume today, Sunday, July 12.”
CBC also reported business owners responded to the chaos, including Harsh Chawla of Pukka restaurant, who said, “As soon as the shooting stopped, Chawla says he brought people inside to make sure they were safe.”
Investigation and public impact
Police said no arrests had been made and that the exact number of suspects remained unknown, with Barredo telling reporters the investigation would be “complex” because of “the sheer number of people involved” and the “chaotic amount of information.”
““I can say it’s complex because of the sheer number of people involved, just the chaotic amount of information.”
CBC reported Toronto police were still searching for the people responsible, with Chief Myron Demkiw saying police would be “relentless in our pursuit of those responsible.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney reacted on X, writing, “I am horrified by the shooting that has killed two people at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival in Toronto,” and he added, “Police have my full support as they work to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford condemned the violence, writing, “The person responsible must be caught, brought to justice and spend the rest of their life behind bars,” and he thanked Toronto Police and first responders.
In the immediate aftermath, CBC said a St. Clair Avenue bagel shop decided to shut down and hand out free food, with co-owner Dara Gallinger saying, “It didn't feel right for us to open as usual because our vibe is usually really happy, with music and families.”
