Gunman kills two, injures 12 on bustling Toronto avenue, police say

TORONTO — A gunman opened fire on a Toronto street filled with people in restaurants late on Sunday, killing two people and injuring 12 others, including a young girl, authorities said. The suspected shooter was later found dead. 

The girl was in a critical condition, Toronto police chief Mark Saunders said.

"We are looking at all possible motives... and not closing any doors," Saunders told reporters at the site of the shooting.

Paramedics, firefighters and police converged on the scene in Toronto's east end.

Police said the gunman used a handgun. Earlier reports said nine people had been shot.

The gunfire on Danforth Avenue in the city's Greektown neighbourhood began at 10pm. local time (02:00 GMT Monday), the Special Investigations Unit said, adding that the gunman walked down the busy avenue firing at groups of people. 

Danforth is filled with restaurants and a family-friendly night life.

The gunman, a 29-year-old man, exchanged fire with police, fled and was later found dead, according to the Special Investigations Unit, which investigates deaths and injuries involving police.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter on Monday, "The people of Toronto are strong, resilient and brave — and we'll be there to support you through this difficult time."

Toronto Mayor John Tory told reporters the city has a gun problem, with weapons too readily available to too many people. Tory is expected to brief city councilors on Monday morning.

Toronto is grappling with a sharp rise in gun violence this year. Deaths from gun violence has jumped 53 per cent to 26 so far in 2018 from the same period last year, police data last week showed, with the number of shootings rising 13 per cent.

Toronto has deployed about 200 police officers since July 20 in response to the recent spate in shootings, which city officials have blamed on gang violence.

In April, a driver deliberately plowed his white Ryder rental van into a lunch-hour crowd in Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring 15 along a roughly 1.6km stretch of sidewalk thronged with pedestrians.