POLICE respond to call in which 100 shots fired leaving one dead and three wounded in gunfire. CTV photo.
SOME 100 shots were fired as residents ran for cover on a nice sunny Sunday afternoon. CTV photo.
As many as 100 gunshots were flying in mid Etobicoke on a nice Sunday afternoon as many families were enjoying the sunshine and a taste of the outdoors.
After the gun smoke had lifted, a 28-year-old man was dead and three others hospitalized after being injured in gunfire just before 2:30 p.m. at an apartment complex in the area of Willowridge Road and Eglinton Ave. W., just west of Martin Grove Road.
The Willowridge complex is well known to police and has a long history of incidents in which police had to respond.
Toronto Police Insp. Michael Williams said a dark sedan entered the complex on May 16 and approached a Toyota Camry and Mercedes Benz that were parked in front of 22 Willowridge Road.
The occupant or occupants in the sedan opened fired on those inside the two parked vehicles. The gunshots lasted for some time, according to witnesses.
Police and residents estimate about 100 shots were fired at the vehicles as residents in the area ran for cover forgetting about plans of getting some rays in the park.
“From the sounds of things, it was very confusing even for anybody that would have seen what took place as vehicles and people running in all directions, quite chaotic,” Williams said.
When officers arrived, they located one of the victims in a roundabout near the Mercedes. Two other young men were found collapsed on a nearby street.
Police found three male victims in their late 20s and early 30s suffering from gunshot wounds.
All four were transported to the hospital in an emergency run by police.
Williams said one of the victims was later pronounced dead. Of the victims who remain in hospital, one is described as in life-threatening condition and two others have serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
“It doesn’t appear to be random. But again, we can’t jump to any kind of conclusions at this point,” he said.
Officers were at the scene for hours as they canvass for witnesses, cellphone and dash cam videos that can help in the investigation.
Police last summer found 86 shell casings after a nightclub shooting in New Toronto, which at the time was a record for casings found at a scene. The Willowbridge shooting is estimated to have left behind a record 100 bullet casings.
Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact 23 Division, homicide investigators at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.