1 dead, 2 in hospital following triple shooting in Flemingdon Park
One person is dead and two others are in hospital following a triple shooting in Flemingdon Park early Friday morning, Toronto police say.
Officers responded to a shooting call around 12:45 a.m. at a housing complex near Vendome Place and Grenoble Drive, in the area of Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue.
Police say a total of four people were injured during the incident.
One victim has been pronounced dead, while two others suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital in stable condition.
Victim estimates upwards of 20 shots fired
Victim Cheryl Maxie told CBC News she and her two sons were outside in her front yard watching fireworks when they heard gun shots.
"The gun shots were coming closer to us and then they shot in my yard," she said.
Maxie estimated there were 20 to 30 gunshots. She said she dropped to the ground and a bullet grazed her leg.
"I smelled the bullets, I smelled the powder. That's how close they come to us," Maxie said.
Maxie's son Jama said ricocheting bullets grazed his nose and hands.
"I have no idea what happened tonight," Jama said. "I'm just a university student who was trying to enjoy the fireworks on Canada Day."
Maxie's other son Tylor Coore said he took cover as quickly as possible and wasn't hurt. He said his nursing school training kicked in and he ushered Maxie and Jama into a bathroom where he applied pressure on their wounds until police arrived and they were transported to hospital.
"I don't know why it happened, honestly. I think it's getting crazy in these neighbourhoods now. This stuff has to stop. They could've killed us," Maxie said.
The family, from White Bear First Nations in Saskatchewan, had gathered to grieve the recently discovered unmarked graves of as many as 751 Indigenous children at a former residential school, Jama said.
"We had gotten together as an Indigenous family in these very unfortunate times and one thing led to another and we were caught in the crossfire," he said. "I am very grateful today."
It is unclear what the condition of the fourth person is or how they became injured during the incident. Paramedics say only two people were transported to hospital from the scene.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to call police at (416) 808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
