Two Killed, 24 Injured After Gunfight At Toronto Block Party

Two killed, 24 injured after gunfight at Toronto block party < br />

2012-07-18 06:25:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

TORONTO, CANADA (BNO NEWS) -- Two people were killed and more than 20 others were injured when a gunfight broke out at a block party in the Canadian city of Toronto, making it the city's worst ever incident of gun violence, police said on Tuesday.

The mass shooting occurred late Monday night at around 11 p.m. local time on Danzig Street near Morningside Avenue in Toronto's Scarborough District, located in the city's eastern area, where over 100 people were gathering during an outdoor party.

Investigators believe the gunfire broke out after an altercation, resulting in a man being shot by another man, and that more than one person then opened fire into the crowd. One handgun was recovered as police signaled one of the injured as a person of interest, although no arrests have been made yet.

Two people were killed and 24 others were injured, including a woman who suffered non-gunshot-related injuries, a baby, and one man who remains in a critical condition. The fatalities were identified as 14-year-old Shyanne Charles, of Toronto, and 23-year-old Joshua Yasay, of Ajax in the Greater Toronto Area.

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair spoke to reporters on Tuesday, describing the incident as 'shocking' and 'senseless violence.' "It will be shocking to all of Canada, because of the number of the people injured," he said. "The level of violence is something we have never experienced."

Several witnesses complained about police and emergency response, saying they were slow in arriving and brining the situation under control. However, Blair stated that the response was "very rapid and I think was successful in getting the injured to treatment in a very speedy way."

Meanwhile, investigators are asking anyone who was at the party to contact police.

"Officers who attended the scene last night observed a chaotic one, with people fleeing the area on foot and in vehicles. This is completely understandable due to the nature of the event," said Homicide Squad Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson of the Toronto Police Service. "However, there is no doubt in my mind that there were persons in attendance at the function who know the identity of those responsible for the murders and woundings of these citizens."

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