Police search for gunman after shooting leaves 2 in life-threatening condition
Police are searching for a gunman after an early morning shooting in Toronto's west end on Tuesday has left a man and a woman in life-threatening condition.
The man, 24, and the woman, 47, were rushed to a local hospital in an emergency run. Initially, police said they were found without vital signs.
Police said the two victims are "possibly" related but the shooting is not believed to be a case of domestic violence.
"There is a connection," Insp. Mandeep Mann of the Toronto Police Service said of the victims. "And at this point, I'm not at liberty to provide that information because it is an active investigation."
The shooting occurred in the hallway on the sixth floor of a residential building on 50 Lotherton Pathway near Caledonia Road, south of Lawrence Avenue West, at about 9 a.m. Several people called to report hearing the sound of gunshots.
Mann said he could not disclose whether the victims lived in the building. Police do not know if the shooter is a resident or if he knew the victims. He is believed to have fled from the building on foot.
'It's very brazen'
When officers arrived, they found the man and woman on the sixth floor, suffering from "obvious gunshot wounds."
Mann said officers have obtained security camera video from the building that they are reviewing, and they are interviewing witnesses.
"I think it's obvious. It's very brazen," Mann admitted to reporters near the scene. "It is very scary."
Members of the Toronto police's emergency task force went into the building to search for the shooter. Officers are also canvassing every floor in the building for information. Police canine units are assisting with the search.
"Any shooting like this, we obviously take it very seriously," he added.
Police tape off large area around building
Mann said the suspect is described as a black male wearing all black clothing. He would not say if a weapon has been recovered.
"What we really need is the public's assistance. If they have any information, we're appealing for them to contact 13 Division," he said.
Officers have taped off a large area around the building as they investigate. Police do not believe anyone else was involved in the shooting.
"We are being precautionary here because it did occur in the building," he said.
"Initially, we did not know how the suspect had fled so we wanted to be able to protect any entry or exit points and examine those points."
Earlier, Const. Allyson Douglas Cook of the Toronto police said the ETF was there to ensure the safety of residents in the building.
"At this point, it's very early, there's a lot that we don't know. Right now, obviously, the priority is to try to save the lives of the two people who have been rushed to hospital," she said.
