Witnesses, residents recount aftermath of Toronto festival shooting that left 2 dead, multiple people injured

UPDATE: What we experience after fateful shot at Salsa on St. Clair fete

Business owner recounts letting people inside during St. Clair shooting

Reporter's update from night of shooting at Toronto's Salsa on St. Clair festival

Stories keep trickling out, detailing how local businesses responded to the chaos that ensued at the festival. 

"We all ducked," he said. As soon as the shooting stopped, Chawla says he brought people inside to make sure they were safe.

"We brought in as many people as we could." 

A St. Clair Avenue bagel shop decided to shut down today and hand out free food to the community to counter the feelings of fear and negativity. 

Co-owner Dara Gallinger said Arthur's Snackette, which opened just three months ago, is closed for the day to respect the victims and the devastation felt by residents. 

"It didn't feel right for us to open as usual because our vibe is usually really happy, with music and families," she said 

But with bagels already made and ready to go, the team decided instead to hand out free bags of bagels to bring "a little bit of optimism" to residents this morning, said co-owner Ari Zuckerbrot.

"We figured we may as well feed the neighbourhood in the community and bring a little bit of joy to the day," he said, adding they plan to take some bagels to police at the scene, too. 

"It's hard to feel good about your city, your neighbourhood when things like this happen. But there is so much good happening here and so we want to remind people of that," said Gallinger.

Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw publicly commented on the tragic shooting this afternoon, promising police will be "relentless in our pursuit of those responsible."

"All the necessary resources are being made available to our investigative teams," his statement said.

He called the shooting at the family-friendly community even an act of "brazen violence" and said it's "heartbreaking and unacceptable." 

"My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and with everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence," he said.

Mazza said they're reconsidering participating next year and questions if the festival should happen at all after the shooting. 

"This moment kind of just crushed it for us," she said, adding people are drinking more at the event and that there wasn't enough police during the festival. 

"We just don't feel protected."

To the suspects behind the shooting, Mazza said they "ruined" the festival for everybody in the community. 

"I think they just reacted and … were just thinking of themselves," she said.

Business owner recounts letting people inside during St. Clair shooting

Macelleria Atlas, a family-run butcher shop, became a safe haven for many after owner Angela Mazza let people inside during the chaotic moments of a fatal shooting at Toronto's Salsa on St. Clair festival Saturday evening.

A butcher shop on St. Clair Avenue became a safe haven for many residents moments after shots rang out. Angela Mazza, owner of Macelleria Atlas, said she ran into the store with her mother, Anna Maria, a friend with a baby and several people who were in the vicinity. 

"We locked the door behind us … just to make sure that everybody was safe. It was a really scary, shocking moment for all of us," she said. 

Anna Maria said the shop has been part of the festival every year since it first began in 2005 and that the shop has been in the community for over 60 years. 

She began to tear up as she spoke of the impact Saturday's event would have on the community: "It's beautiful to be part of [the community]," she said. "We did our best. We did."

A Toronto resident who lives near the Salsa on St. Clair festival says neighbours sprang into action to help frightened festivalgoers after a crowd fled the sound of gunfire Saturday evening.

Lindsey Petrus said she and her husband were outside speaking with neighbours when "a sea of people" suddenly rushed into their cul-de-sac.

"People were yelling, 'Shooter,'" Petrus said. "My neighbour pulled me behind his car to duck and get some cover."

She said the crowd included "old people, young people, families," and "everyone was just in a state of chaos and panic."

Petrus said she relied on her first-aid training to help people who had been injured while running from the scene, including two teenage girls who had been trampled.

"I just immediately clicked into first-aid mode," she said. "I was cleaning out elbows and knees, whatever people needed."

She said neighbours brought out water, offered people their cellphones to contact loved ones and tried to comfort those separated from family members.

"There were people who were actually vomiting because they were so anxious and worked up," Petrus said. "One girl was calling her mom just crying, saying, 'Mommy, I want to go home.' It was unlike anything I've ever seen in my life."

The CN Tower is set to dim its lights at the top of every hour tonight in honour of the victims of Saturday's shooting, according to a social media post from the Toronto landmark's team. 

We have more reaction from politicians at the local, provincial and federal levels.

Alejandra Bravo, a city councillor for Toronto's Davenport ward, near where the shooting happened, said in a statement that "the peace and joy of the Salsa on St. Clair festival was shattered by these reckless actions."

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles expressed support for all those affected, saying "I know residents and festival attendees are scared and still processing this reckless act at a crowded festival that brings thousands of people together."

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand also said her "thoughts are with the victims, their families and the community," adding that she lived in the area when she was an articling student.

The Toronto Police Association has thanked officers for their response to last night's festival shooting, as well as other incidents in the city.

"It has been a violent weekend in our city with multiple shootings and homicides," the union said in a post on X.

"Last night’s street festival should have been a time of celebration, but when gunfire and chaos broke out, our members were there," it added.

In a separate incident early this morning, gunfire was exchanged near Cherry Street in Toronto's waterfront area, with one suspect then fleeing the scene in a stolen rideshare vehicle. At least three people were injured and one suspect was arrested, according to police.

Police said Sunday there are no updates yet on the conditions of the injured victims taken to hospital. 

They reiterated that six people suffered gunshot wounds on Saturday, including the two men who have been pronounced dead — one at the scene and one later in hospital. 

Toronto Paramedic Services have said seven people were taken to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries and six with serious non-life-threatening injuries. Another person was not transported from the scene.

Paramedics did not specify the kind of injuries sustained by the six people in serious condition, but police said only four of them had gunshot wounds and also did not specify what the other injuries were.

---

---