The shooting happened around 4:45 a.m. on July 27, 2026, at the U.S. Consulate at 360 University Avenue, the Toronto Police Service says. (Photo: TPS on YouTube)<\/p>\n
The man and teenager accused of a shooting at the United States Consulate in Toronto set fire to a vehicle north of Brampton days before the attack, investigators say.<\/p>\n
The shooting happened around 4:45 a.m. on July 27 at the U.S. Consulate at 360 University Avenue, the Toronto Police Service says.<\/p>\n
An officer stationed outside the consulate heard the shots and saw a newer-model white Honda Accord fleeing southbound on University Avenue.<\/p>\n
Officers gave chase as the suspects fled eastbound on Dundas Street East and then northbound on the Don Valley Parkway, but police backed off from the pursuit near Don Mills Road in the interest of public safety.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Shot fired outside U.S. consulate in Toronto<\/a><\/p>\n The getaway vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that day and was later located abandoned in Scarborough. Security personnel were inside the consulate building at the time of the shooting but no injuries were reported.<\/p>\n Police say a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old youth were arrested on Saturday and charged with multiple offenses.<\/p>\n But investigators say the pair are also responsible for a vehicle fire in Caledon on July 24. Toronto police say suspects \u00a0in a stolen vehicle stopped at a gas station in the Kingston Road and McCowan Road area and filled a red jerry can with gasoline before driving to a residential street in the Queen Street West and Mississauga Road area north of Brampton.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where they poured gasoline on a vehicle in a driveway and lit it on fire before fleeing the scene, police say. No injuries were reported.<\/p>\n Toronto police say Xen-Ul-Abdeen Syed, 19, and a 15-year-old male youth have been charged with multiple offenses, including discharge a restricted firearm or a prohibited firearm into or at a place, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, attack on premises of internationally protected persons, and \u00a0arson causing damage to property.<\/p>\n Both of the accused were scheduled to make court appearances at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre this week to answer to the charges.<\/p>\n Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw said investigators believe these crimes \u201cwere carried out by criminals for hire, recruited and directed through encrypted messaging apps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe also continue to see too many people accused of serious offences breaching court-ordered conditions,\u201d he said in a release. \u201cWe need meaningful deterrence, we need the tools to investigate those orchestrating these crimes, and we need the justice system to keep pace with the evolving threats to public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n Police say the shooting is the second time the consulate was targeted this year following an incident on March 10, when two suspects allegedly fired multiple shots at the building before fleeing in a stolen vehicle.<\/p>\n Two people have since been arrested and charged in the earlier case, though those charges have not been tested in court.<\/p>\n Anyone with information about these incidents can contact TPS by calling 416-808-2222. Anonymous tips may also be provided to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or visiting www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n When you contact Crime Stoppers you stay anonymous, never have to testify, and could receive a $2,000 reward.<\/p>\n