Toronto police say they have arrested 23 people after close to 100 shots were fired outside a recording studio in Toronto’s west end on Monday night – though no one was injured.
Officers were in the area of Queen Street W. and Sudbury Street around 11:20 p.m. for an unrelated investigation, Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
A stolen car pulled up to the area, she said, and three people exited the vehicle and opened fire on the recording studio and the people gathered outside.
Pogue said the violence escalated into an exchange of gunfire between two groups.
During the gunfire, an unmarked police vehicle with officers inside was struck by bullets, she said.
“I want to stress how remarkable it is that in such a volatile and dangerous situation, nobody was injured,” she said. “No bystanders, not the individuals involved and not our officers.”
2 suspects are outstanding, police say
Police boxed in the stolen vehicle after the three people who initially started firing attempted to flee, Pogue said.
One was arrested after being chased on foot, she said. The other two are still outstanding.
Officers then searched the area and found several firearms, likely discarded by the fleeing suspects, Pogue said. They also arrested several people inside the recording studio, as well as others who were trying to flee.
More firearms were found in the studio, including on the rooftop and hidden in nearby garbage bins, she said.
In total, police seized 16 firearms, including two assault style rifles and multiple handguns, Pogue said.
She said the incident appears to be highly targeted and police don’t feel there is a threat to the community.
The shooting has “all the signs” of a gang-related conflict, but the investigation is ongoing, she said.
Pogue said police will provide more information about the charges in a news release.
Forensic identification specialists are still gathering evidence at the scene, she said.
Police chased men along GO train tracks: witness
Alyssa Wiebe, who lives in a building on Sudbury Street, said she was in bed on Monday night when she heard about 15 popping sounds.
At first, she said she thought the noise was fireworks, but after going out on her balcony, she realized it was gunshots.
Wiebe said she watched police officers chase two men who were running along the GO Train tracks. She said she saw police arrest one of the men.
“They were looking in the bushes near where they arrested him,” she said.
Special constables, Metrolinx workers, firefighters and an ambulance were on scene, she said.
Despite the shooting, Wiebe said she doesn’t feel particularly at risk.
“There’s a lot of characters in the neighborhood but I’ve never felt unsafe,” she said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact investigators or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.