Toronto police set up command post after back-to-back shootings in North York
Toronto police stepped up their presence in North York's Jane-Finch area following back-to-back shootings over the weekend, one of which was fatal.
Late Sunday afternoon, Chief Myron Demkiw announced that a command post has been set up at Driftwood Community Centre "so residents feel safe.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
"We ask that people in the Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue area call 911 if they see anything suspicious," he said in a post on X.
The shootings occurred less than 24 hours apart on Friday and Saturday in the area of Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue, just north of Finch Avenue.
One person died, while a teenage boy was critically injured.
In both cases, the victims were waiting outside of a bus stop in the area when an unknown suspect approached and fired shots at them, police said Saturday.
A Toronto police car is pictured on Driftwood Avenue in Toronto, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Some residents in a northwest Toronto neighbourhood say they're feeling uneasy after two people were shot while waiting for buses at the same intersection less than a day apart. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
The victim of the Saturday shooting was shot three times, twice in the stomach and once in the head, and died in hospital. Their identity has not been released as their next of kin has not been notified, police said.
The victim of the Friday shooting, a 16-year-old boy, was shot in the face and rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He remains there in critical, but stable, condition.
Police said Saturday that they believe that the same suspect is connected to both shootings, but investigators are still working to determine if he acted alone or with accomplices.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon, Insp. Peter Wehby said although the two shootings “appear to be random,” investigators are looking into why the victims were targeted.
“It's not a normal thing to just shoot somebody who's standing at a bus stop. So this has hallmarks of gang activity. But I'm not going to say at this point that we can confirm it’s gang activity,”
Wehby said, adding that the incidents are being investigated jointly by the homicide unit and guns and gangs task force.
Wehby went on to say that police have since located a suspected stolen vehicle believed to be connected to the shootings. He asked members of the public who may have seen the black Acura RDX with licence plate CVEN900 on Friday or Saturday to contact investigators.
No arrests have been made at this point.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978649.1722015109!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump's near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president's ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former president's injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Powerful cartel leader 'El Mayo' Zambada was lured onto airplane before arrest in U.S., AP source says
A powerful Mexican drug cartel leader who eluded authorities for decades was duped into flying into the U.S., where he was arrested alongside a son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, according to a U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the matter.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.