Two dead, one seriously injured in brazen Queen West shooting Article content One person has died and another in critical condition after what sources described as a “running gun battle” along Queen St. W. Saturday night. And a third victim, reportedly a woman in her 30s, was reportedly an innocent bystander, the Sun has learned. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Two dead, one seriously injured in brazen Queen West shooting Back to video The shots rang out just before 8 p.m. in the area of Queen St. W and Peter St., Toronto police Const. David Hopkinson told the Sun. Two people were left with life-threatening gunshot wounds, and were rushed to local trauma centres where one victim later died of his injures. A third victim was also found at the scene with serious, non-life threatening injuries. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Two suspects, Hopkinson said, were seen running northbound on Peter St. immediately after the shots rang out, reportedly escaping in a dark-coloured SUV. Carrie Ma was enjoying a rooftop barbecue with friends on nearby Cameron St. when the shots rang out. “We weren’t sure if it was fireworks, since it’s so close to Canada Day,” she said.<doc-sep>CANADIAN PRESS One man is dead and two others are seriously injured after a shooting in downtown Toronto during a busy long weekend evening. UPDATE: A second man has died after the shooting in downtown Toronto that also sent a woman to hospital, Toronto police confirmed Sunday. Shots rang out at Queen Street West and Peter Street in front of the Cube nightclub around 8 p.m. on Saturday, sending people running for cover. "They (bystanders) were running because they didn't really know where the shots were coming from," a witness told CP24. Toronto police initially reported that three people were taken to hospital with "very serious" injuries. They later confirmed one of the victims had died. #breaking Shooting scene near Queen and Peter. @CP24 covering LIVE. Photo courtesy witness Chris Harper pic.twitter.com/QYDrA1PHk0 — Stephanie Smyth (@stephaniesmyth) July 1, 2018 Store owner Arshia Eskandarifar told CityNews that he heard about a dozen gunshots and people running. He saw two men lying on the other side of the street. One of them was covered in blood and asking for help, he told the outlet. Eskandarifar said he used one of his shirts to help with the victim's injuries. Shooting at a club on Queen near Spadina. Tune in to @CityNews tonight at 11:00pm. Email: NEWS@CITYNEWS.CA Tip line: 416-599-CITY Twitter: @CITYNEWS. Website: https://t.co/moBj0isVxw #Toronto#Breaking#News#Headlines pic.twitter.com/z8sfdxkITU — Craig Wadman. (@craig_wadman) July 1, 2018 Police said two suspects were seen running away from the area, and they may have fled in a black SUV or white car. The intersection is in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district and is full of bars and restaurants. Police blocked off the area to traffic while they investigated. Toronto Mayor John Tory spoke to media about the incident at a Canada Day event Sunday morning. He said people with ties to gangs and alleged repeat offenders are "the only ones that pose a threat" to the city. He said he's spoken with the police chief and knows that officers are working hard to curb the violence and catch the people responsible.<doc-sep>One person is dead and two others remain in hospital after gunfire erupted in broad daylight on one of the busiest streets in the city Saturday evening. Multiple shots were heard outside Cube Nightclub in the area of Queen Street West and Peter Street, in the city’s Entertainment District, shortly before 8 p.m. Graphic images posted to social media showed a young man lying on the sidewalk in a pool of blood after shots rang out. Two victims were immediately located and rushed to a trauma centre, police said. The third victim was found some distance away from the scene of the shooting a short time later and was also rushed to hospital. Toronto Paramedic Services said two males – one in his 20s and another of uncertain age – were taken to hospital with critical injuries, while a woman believed to be in her 30s was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. One of the male victims later died of his injuries in hospital, police said Saturday night. Police said the suspects may have fled in a black SUV or a white car. “Our investigators are on-scene right now trying to piece this together,” Const. David Hopkinson told CP24. “It is a large scene. We’re talking about the downtown core and Queen Street – one of the busiest streets on a very busy Canada Day weekend.” The daylight shooting happened on the first day of the long weekend, as Queen Street West was jammed with pedestrians out enjoying the hot weather. Shocked passersby described a “chaotic” scene in the aftermath of the attack. “We heard multiple, multiple gunshots. They came in two sets. There was a set of three to four, four to five and then a pause and then another set of literally three to four, four to five,” one man told CP24. “The scene just turned chaotic. There were people running everywhere, there were vehicles just trying to get out of the way. Down on Peter Street we just saw a mass of tourists – normal Saturday traffic on Queen Street – basically running scared for their lives. It was intense, it was very chaotic.” One woman who witnessed the shooting from on board a streetcar described the incident as “terrifying.” “I was scared. I had two panic attacks. Even now I’m shaking,” she said. The woman said she saw a man in a white shirt get shot before the streetcar driver yelled at people to hit the floor. “When I heard the first gunshot I looked outside because I was in a streetcar and I saw one guy in a white shirt, a black man, fall to the ground. I saw a black SUV with tinted windows storm off,” the woman said. “Then there was four more gunshots after that and we all went down to the ground as we were instructed by the streetcar driver. “I’m still in shock, I’m so scared for everyone. I’m hoping that these people get caught because it’s ridiculous with everything going on nowadays, it‘s not funny.” Another woman said she saw people fleeing in all directions. “They (bystanders) were running because they didn’t really know where the shots were coming from,” the woman said. She said she was crying and shaking in the aftermath of the violent incident. “This is Canada Day weekend. Why are people doing this – I don‘t understand,” she said. Hopkinson called the daylight shooting “very disturbing.” “It’s probably one of the busiest sections or streets in the entire city today,” he said. “There’d be hundreds if not thousands of people that could be affected today. For any police officer this is disturbing.” Homicide detectives have now taken over the case and Hopkinson said investigators are working to gather as much evidence as possible. “Any kind of video that people might have or might find – we’re talking dashcam video from cars, video from businesses in the area, any kind of video, cellphone -- we would appreciate it if people could contact investigators to try and give them a copy to let them piece together what has happened,” Hopkinson said. “There’s obviously people who are dangerous to the community,” he added “They’ve shot in broad daylight with lots of pedestrians around. We need to get them off the streets and anything the public can do to help, we appreciate it.” A large swath of the busy street remains closed off as police investigate the deadly shooting.<doc-sep>Two men fatally gunned down in a brazen shooting on a busy stretch of Queen Street West Saturday have been identified as members of Toronto’s rap community. Gunshots rang out shortly before 8 p.m. outside Cube Nightclub, near Queen Street West and Peter Street in the city’s Entertainment District. Graphic photos posted on social media following the shooting showed a man lying on a sidewalk in a pool of blood. Speaking to reporters Sunday, Det. Jeff Allington said two males and one female were outside on the street when they were struck by bullets. They were all rushed to a local trauma centre for treatment. On Saturday night, investigators said that one of the male victims died in hospital and on Sunday morning, Allington confirmed that a second man had died following the shooting. The 37-year-old woman injured in the shooting is expected to survive. The two men, both from Toronto, were formally identified by police Sunday as 21-year-old Jahvante Smart and 28-year-old Ernest Modekwe. According to family and friends, Smart was a rising rapper who went by the stage name “Smoke Dawg,” while Modekwe was a music brand manager who was also known as “Kosi.” A statement released by Smart’s family and management said he leaves behind a one-year-old daughter, as well as his parents, 13 siblings, friends and fans. “Jahvante touched the lives of many fans not only in Toronto but around the world,” the statement reads. “Music was able to let him travel the world and chase his dream of becoming a super star.” His family also said he had grown into a responsible young man who took care of those close to him. “As a young man from Regent Park, he overcame poverty and grew into a responsible caring grown man who took care of his friends and family. He helped people wherever he could and will be remembered for his huge smile and glowing personality.” Smart released a new video just days ago. In an Instagram post late Saturday, Toronto rap star Drake posted a picture of the two together and wrote: “All these gifts and blessed souls and inner lights being extinguished lately is devastating. I wish peace would wash over our city. So much talent and so many stories we never get to see play out. Rest up, Smoke.” Meanwhile, friends of Modekwe took to social media to remember him as a University of Toronto graduate who was humble, kind and generous, with a vibrant personality. A vigil is set to take place tonight for Modekwe, while one is being planned for Monday for Smart. Police appealing for witnesses Allington said that police are searching for more than one suspect but could not confirm the exact number of people who are believed to be responsible for the deadly shooting. Police previously said that the perpetrators may have fled the scene in a black SUV or a white car but no suspect descriptions have been released. Allington urged anyone with information or video footage to come forward. “There were numerous people in the area at the time of this shooting and I’m asking that any of them that have any information on this or witnessed this shooting contact police,” Allington said. “There were a number of cars that left the area shortly after the shooting and I’m asking all of the drivers of those cars and the people that were in them to come forward.” On Sunday morning, police tape and forensic investigators were spotted collecting evidence at the busy downtown intersection. A section of Queen Street West was closed east of Spadina Avenue for the police investigation but the area has now reopened. Mayor 'angry' about gun violence in Toronto Saturday's fatal shooting brings the total number of homicides in Toronto to 50 and speaking at a Canada Day event in Toronto on Sunday, Mayor John Tory said he is “damn mad” about the recent gun violence. “I’ve talked to Chief Saunders this morning and I know they are hard at work on this one and some of the other shootings that we’ve experienced this year. We are going to round these people up…we are going to put them in jail and then the real question is will the system keep them in jail until their charges are dealt with,” Tory said. “We just can’t have these people on the street. They are causing mayhem in an otherwise very peaceful city.”<doc-sep>
A second man has died after gunfire broke out in broad daylight in the heart of Toronto’s entertainment district. Toronto Police said shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday, multiple shots rang through the area of Queen Street West and Peter Street, a bustling area filled with bars, shops and restaurants, leaving three people with “very serious” injuries. “It’s probably one of the busiest sections or streets in the entire city today,” Const. David Hopkinson told CP24 on Saturday night. “There’d be hundreds if not thousands of people that could be affected today. For any police officer this is disturbing.” Police confirmed to CP24 that two men-- one in his 20s and the other of an unknown age-- were rushed to hospital and later died. The third victim, a woman believed to be in her 30s, was also sent to hospital, but is expected to survive the shooting, according to police. Witnesses in the area described the scene as “chaotic” and “shocking.” “There were people running everywhere. There were vehicles just trying to get out of the way,” one man told CP24. “Down on Peter Street we just saw a mass of tourists-- normal Saturday traffic on Queen Street-- basically running scared for their lives. It was intense, it was very chaotic.” One woman who witnessed the attack from a nearby streetcar said she was terrified by what she had seen. “I’m still in shock,” she said. “I’m so scared for everyone. I’m hoping that these people get caught.” Following the shooting, police say two suspects fled the scene in a white car or black SUV. They’re asking anyone with information or video of the incident to come forward. “Any kind of video that people might have or might find…we would appreciate it if people could contact investigators to try and give them a copy to let them piece together what has happened,” Hopkinson said. With files from CTV Toronto and CP24