Eight 'tow truck-related' shootings in Toronto, no injuries reported: police
Toronto police are looking for a stolen vehicle in connection with at least eight separate shootings in the city over the weekend.
Police said that no injuries were reported at any scene, but several vehicles and residences or work locations were struck multiple times, all of which are connected to the city’s tow truck industry.
The shootings started at 2 a.m. Saturday and spanned 41 and 42 Division in Scarborough, with the last firearm discharge taking place at 7:45 p.m. Sunday.
Investigators said the same suspect vehicle, a stolen dark-coloured, newer model, four-door Honda CRV, was involved in all eight shootings and a rear passenger is believed to have discharged a firearm “multiple times” at the victims’ addresses.
It’s unclear how many suspects were in the vehicle at the time of the shootings.
No people were struck, police said.
“Police are appealing to the public for any information about the suspects or vehicle. If you see the vehicle, do not approach, and call 911,” police said in a release published Monday. “Police are asking people involved in the tow truck industry to be vigilant and to call 911 if they see anything suspicious.”
Toronto police are looking for a stolen vehicle involved in eight separate "tow truck-related" shootings in the city. (Toronto Police Service)
The news comes just days after Toronto police announced the launch of a new Tow Truck Task Force to deal with what officials described as “concerning trends” in the industry.
At a news conference Thursday, police said since the start of the year, the city has seen 24 tow truck-related shootings or discharges, representing 12 per cent of the gun incidents city-wide so far this year.
"Over the past six months Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area have seen increased criminal activity surrounding a small segment of tow truck industry," Staff Supt. Joe Matthews said at the time. "This includes shootings and firearms discharges, arsons and mischiefs targeting tow truck companies, their vehicles and their drivers."
Matthews said the task force will lead a "proactive preventative response” and share intelligence with other services across the GTA to combat the problem.
With files from CP24’s Joshua Freeman
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau noncommittal on expanding rebate beyond 'working Canadians'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau does not appear willing to budge on his plan to send a $250 rebate to 'hardworking Canadians,' despite pressure from the opposition to give the money to seniors and people who are not able to work.
'Mayday!': New details emerge after Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Mirabel airport
New details suggest that there were communication issues between the pilots of a charter flight and the control tower at Montreal's Mirabel airport when a Boeing 737 made an emergency landing on Wednesday.
Cucumbers sold in Ontario, other provinces recalled over possible salmonella contamination
A U.S. company is recalling cucumbers sold in Ontario and other Canadian provinces due to possible salmonella contamination.
Latest updates: Tracking RSV, influenza, COVID-19 in Canada
As the country heads into the worst time of year for respiratory infections, the Canadian respiratory virus surveillance report tracks how prevalent certain viruses are each week and how the trends are changing week to week.
Weekend weather: Parts of Canada could see up to 50 centimetres of snow, wind chills of -40
Winter is less than a month away, but parts of Canada are already projected to see winter-like weather.
W5 Investigates A 'ticking time bomb': Inside Syria's toughest prison holding accused high-ranking ISIS members
In the last of a three-part investigation, W5's Avery Haines was given rare access to a Syrian prison, where thousands of accused high-ranking ISIS members are being held.
Federal government posts $13B deficit in first half of the fiscal year
The Finance Department says the federal deficit was $13 billion between April and September.
Armed men in speedboats make off with women and children when a migrants' dinghy deflates off Libya
Armed men in two speedboats took off with women and children after a rubber dinghy carrying some 112 migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean Sea started deflating off Libya's coast, a humanitarian aid group said Friday.
Nick Cannon says he's seeking help for narcissistic personality disorder
Nick Cannon has spoken out about his recent diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, saying 'I need help.'