At least two people were killed and four more were injured after at least two people opened fire at a Toronto street festival on Saturday, police said.
At 8:12 p.m., Toronto Police responded to reports of active gunfire in the area of St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue. At a news conference at about 11 p.m., police said that they no longer believed there was an active shooter.
Police said there was an exchange of gunfire between two people who were targeting each other, however, they could not say if the shooters were deceased or if all the people injured were involved in the altercation. There have been no arrests, but police don’t believe the public is at risk. Two guns were recovered at the scene.
“This is a very fluid and active matter,” Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said. We “are not ruling out that there are additional shooters.”
Police said the shooting took place at 781 St. Clair Avenue West, but Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said police have identified three crime scenes.
As of 9:30 p.m., Toronto police said they had secured the scene, but the suspect, or suspects, are “still outstanding.” Police advised people to avoid the area.
A vendor at the festival told The Canadian Press that she saw a “huge wave” of people running.
“Everybody started getting frantic and then we stopped serving,” Patsy Gutierrez said.
Videos posted to social media show people running as shots rang out.
Valerie Rodriguez told the news outlet that people were screaming and running and she was told “to lay down onto the floor.”
“We got scared because we didn’t know exactly what was happening,” she said.
The Salsa on St. Clair festival was taking place between Winona Drive and Christie Street. The festival is 22 years old and celebrates Latin food and culture over the course of two days. Police said there were approximately 13,000 people at the festival at the time of the shooting.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow joined police at the press conference to thank first responders and send condolences to the families of the two people who died.
“I’m deeply disturbed and angry about this reckless, irresponsible act of violence, and right in the middle of a festival attended by children,” she said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford decried the “senseless violence” of the mass shooting in an X post.
“I am devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed two lives and injured others. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected,” he wrote. “Thank you to Toronto Police and our first responders for responding to this horrific incident. The person responsible must be caught, brought to justice and spend the rest of their life behind bars.”
Police clear the area around the Salsa on St. Clair Festival following a shooting that left two people dead.
📸 Jul 11, 2026#Toronto #ProtestMania pic.twitter.com/T3IB3Pm6dn
— Caryma Sa’d – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) July 12, 2026
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the shooting took place just a short walk from her home.
“I am thinking of the two lives lost and others who were injured and traumatized by the violence this evening,” she wrote on X. “My family and I are safe, but I can’t imagine what the families of the victims are experiencing tonight. This is horrific. Please stay away from the area and stay home if you can. First responders, including Toronto police, are on site. Again, please listen to the police as this is ongoing.”
CURRENT INFO:
-6 people located w/gunshot wounds
-2 people pronounced deceased
-police remain o/s
-suspect(s) still outstanding
-more information to follow #GO1436736
^av— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) July 12, 2026
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