A 21-year-old man was killed in a shooting in Toronto’s east end late Thursday, police say.
Toronto police say the shooting happened around 10:40 p.m. in a laneway in the area of Lake Shore Boulevard E. and Joseph Duggan Road, just north of Woodbine Beach.
Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon, Det. Sgt. Trevor Grieve said police discovered the victim with a gunshot wound in his chest. The man was rushed to hospital, where he died. Police have identified the victim as 21-year-old Quebec man Dacia Mbongo.
Grieve said Friday he believed the shooting was targeted.
“There was some sort of an argument or a discussion amongst a group of people,” Grieve said. “We believe we have either two or three suspects at this point in time.”
Grieve said police believe the suspects were wearing black, or dark-coloured clothing, but he was unable to provide any further description at this point.
The homicide unit is investigating in the area, he said.
“We will have officers down in this area to make sure that there’s a clear, visible presence of uniformed officers to reassure the public and the community,” Grieve said.
“Obviously, there’s some concern for public safety at this point in terms of such a brazen shooting,” he said.
Police are asking anyone with information or video surveillance of the area from Thursday night to come forward.
Larissa Shamseer told reporters Friday she heard yelling Thursday night behind her house, along with what sounded like eight gunshots. Shamseer, who has two children, said she was “really shaken up” as the incident happened so close to home in a laneway where she and her neighbours often go for walks and take their dogs.
In a Friday release, Toronto police said this was the city’s 52nd homicide this year.