The family of one of the two men who was fatally shot when a security guard discharged his weapon at an east-end Toronto McDonald’s says the victims were "play fighting" prior to the incident.
Ryan Hind, 39, and Donny Ouimette, 25, were shot over the weekend at the fast-food restaurant, located in the area of Coxwell and Danforth Avenues. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Det. Sgt. Terry Browne previously told reporters that the shooting occurred after an armed security guard became involved in a "fairly significant physical confrontation" with two other patrons at the restaurant at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday. Police have not identified the security guard.
According to Hind's niece, the two friends were "play fighting" prior to the shooting.
"From what we were told from (Ryan's) girlfriend … they were just horsing around, Donny and Ryan," Danielle Hind told CTV Toronto on Monday. "Like pushing and shoving each other; play fighting."
But what happens next is unclear.
Danielle Hind says her uncle’s girlfriend -- who was at the restaurant at the time of the shooting – told the family that the two men bumped into the security guard and he fell to the floor.
"They went to see if he was OK and I guess he got spooked and ended up shooting Donny. And then Ryan saw that Donny was shot and went to go wrestle the gun from the security guard and ended up getting shot himself."
Another family member told CTV Toronto a similar account. They say after the security guard was knocked down, the two men went to help him and that's when the scuffle apparently started. They add that after the security guard discharged his weapon, he ran to the washroom and locked the door until police arrived.
But according to Hind's sister, Brenda Hind, a "pushing-and-shoving fight" led to the first shot being fired.
"They bumped into the security guard and then the security guard and Donny started a pushing-and-shoving fight … Donny ended up pushing the security guard down on the ground and that’s what started the first shot."
Brenda Hind says her brother died in his girlfriend's arms.
"She held him," she said. "He died; she saw him take his last breath."
The incident was captured on a security surveillance camera. Police have previously said it's not immediately clear why the altercation started.
"From what I see on the video, it started very quickly and escalated from there," Brown said over the weekend. "There's no doubt that the security guard is the involved party for the discharging of the firearm. We're really trying to put the pieces together for how this all played out and where we go from here."
Prior to the shooting, Brenda Hind said her brother and his friend had been out drinking .
"They just got their cheques so they were out drinking and having fun," she said. "They didn't intend on hurting anybody."
Donny Ouimette leaves behind a three-year-old son.
No arrests have been made in connection to the incident. Anyone with more information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney
