TORONTO, ONTARIO — A brazen midday gunfight near a school in Toronto’s west end left two people seriously injured on Wednesday, including an innocent bystander who was caught in the crossfire.
According to Toronto Police, the shooting unfolded just before 12:00 p.m. along Keele Street near Donald Avenue, when two groups of three to four individuals exchanged gunfire across the busy roadway.
The Victims
Police confirmed that a 17-year-old male was struck by gunfire, along with a 30-year-old woman who had been driving through the area when the violence erupted.
While investigators have not disclosed whether the teen was directly connected to the gunfight, they emphasized that the woman was simply an innocent bystander whose car became trapped in the middle of the shootout.
Both victims were rushed to hospital by paramedics with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The Response
The gunfire sent shockwaves through the community, forcing several schools in the area to enact emergency protocols. York Memorial Collegiate Institute, along with multiple nearby schools, went into lockdown and hold-and-secure procedures as officers swarmed the area.
By early afternoon, the Toronto District School Board confirmed that those safety measures had been lifted, but parents and students described a tense and frightening ordeal.
“Everyone was told to stay inside, away from the windows,” said one student who was inside York Memorial at the time. “We were scared—we didn’t know what was happening outside.”
Suspect in Custody
Police said one young suspect has already been taken into custody. Investigators also confirmed the recovery of a firearm and a loaded magazine, but would not provide further details.
No descriptions of the remaining suspects have been released, and authorities say the investigation is still in its early stages.
Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from businesses and residences in the area and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Community Impact
The incident has raised renewed concerns about gun violence in Toronto, particularly its proximity to schools and family neighborhoods. Keele Street was closed for several hours as police combed the area for evidence, leaving residents shaken.
“This could have been so much worse,” said one area resident. “Kids were in school, parents were driving by—it’s terrifying to think something like this could happen in broad daylight near children.”
Ongoing Investigation
Toronto Police are asking anyone with information, video, or photos of the shooting to contact investigators or reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Meanwhile, parents, students, and residents in the Keele and Donald Avenue area are left grappling with the frightening reality of a shootout that unfolded steps away from their schools and homes.
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