A leafy midtown Toronto neighbourhood is in shock after two men were killed and four people injured in an exchange of gunfire on Saturday at a busy Latin American street festival. <\/p>\n
Shortly after 8 on a sweltering evening, thousands ran for cover in the wake of the shootings. Some took refuge inside restaurants, on the front porches of homeowners, or in the narrow gaps between houses. <\/p>\n
Billed as Canada\u2019s number one Latin cultural celebration, Salsa on St. Clair was in its 22nd year, with about 13,000 people jammed into a handful of city blocks at the time of the shootings. <\/p>\n
Business owners along Toronto’s St. Clair Avenue West and residents of the area expressed shock and grief after a popular street festival abruptly ended Saturday evening with gunfire that killed two people and left others injured. They say the Salsa on St. Clair festival will need to increase its security measures in the coming years.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Press<\/p>\n
One of the victims died on the street around St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, while another man died in hospital. Four others suffered injuries, according to Toronto Police Service. <\/p>\n
On Saturday evening, TPS initially told the public that an active shooter was at large. But at a news conference later on, Deputy Chief Frank Barredo clarified that that wasn\u2019t the case. <\/p>\n
While no arrests had yet been made as of early Sunday evening, two firearms were recovered from the scene, and police were looking for several suspects, Deputy Chief Barredo said. The investigation will be arduous, he added, owing to the large volume of witness statements to sift through, as well as copious video from revellers.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Sunday, Chief Myron Demkiw said that TPS will be relentless in its pursuit of justice.<\/p>\n
My statement regarding last night’s events: pic.twitter.com\/Lg3ELi9ODT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chief Myron Demkiw (@TPSMyronDemkiw) July 12, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cThe brazen violence we witnessed in the middle of a community festival where thousands were gathered to enjoy a summer evening with family and friends is heartbreaking and unacceptable,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n The second day of the festival was cancelled on Sunday. Police cordoned off St. Clair Avenue from Christie Street to Winona Drive, forcing local businesses within the zone to close their doors. <\/p>\n On Saturday, Sally Jones was watching a World Cup match at Ferro Bar Cafe, on the corner of Arlington and St. Clair avenues, to escape the festival crowds. While there was chatter from servers and other customers about gunfire from outside, there was no immediate panic, she said. <\/p>\n That changed roughly 15 minutes later when people came rushing into the bar, saying more shots were fired, Ms. Jones said. <\/p>\n \u201cGunfire itself is so violent and unexpected. You don\u2019t know where it is or where it\u2019s coming from,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe whole thing was terrifying.\u201d <\/p>\n As she saw the \u201cstampede\u201d of people going down the street and coming into the bar, Ms. Jones hit the floor to take cover from any stray bullets. <\/p>\n Open this photo in gallery:<\/a><\/p>\n Sally Jones, who sheltered inside a bar during the shooting that claimed the lives of two people at the annual Salsa on St. Clair festival, Toronto, July 12.EDUARDO LIMA\/The Globe and Mail<\/p>\n She later moved to a back room for two hours, joining staff and customers who sought shelter until police said it was clear to leave. <\/p>\n \u201cSalsa on St. Clair used to be pretty peaceable and fun. But then with different crowds coming, violence started creeping in. It makes you not really want to go out a lot,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n The festival was conceived in part to reinvigorate businesses along St. Clair West, which were affected negatively by the installation more than a decade ago of a dedicated streetcar line. The festival has long had the support of The Hillcrest Village Business Improvement Area<\/a>, which represents local business in the area. <\/p>\n On Sunday afternoon, taco and empanada kiosks on St. Clair West at the epicentre of the violence sat abandoned, some covered with tarps. Half-cut watermelon, vats of once-fresh salsa and freezers full of meat baked in the sun and were covered with flies. <\/p>\n Garbage was strewn across the street as crews began tearing down a nearby stage that was set to play host to Latin bands and salsa dancers Sunday night. <\/p>\n Josh Matlow, city councillor for Ward 12, Toronto-St. Paul\u2019s, who attended Salsa on St. Clair during the daytime on Saturday, said that all options now need to be considered regarding the future of the festival, including perhaps holding it only during the day, moving it to another location, or maybe even permanently cancelling it. <\/p>\n \u201cIf the festival can contribute to a safe and successful community, then we\u2019ll support it,\u201d he said in an interview. \u201cBut if it\u2019s having an adverse effect on our community, and if we are seeing repeated incidents where the festival is proving that it may have outgrown its original mandate, then we have to get real about that.\u201d<\/p>\n