Two dead in ‘targeted’ shooting at Toronto salsa street festival that injured four others; public not at risk: police

Two people were killed and four more were seriously 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 at 781 St. Clair Ave. West. 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. Police “are not ruling out that there are additional shooters.”

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Deputy Chief Frank Barredo clarifies the shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival was not an active shooter scenario, but rather individuals exchanging gunfire in the crowd.

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— Caryma Sa’d – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) July 12, 2026

Barredo said police have identified three crime scenes in the area of St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue. He said he doesn’t know how many shots were fired.

A vendor at the festival told The Canadian Press that she saw a “huge wave” of people running after shots were fired.

“Everybody started getting frantic and then we stopped serving,” Patsy Gutierrez said.

Videos posted to social media show people running.

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.

“You can just image the chaos, the fear,” Barredo said.

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.

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— 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.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X that his “prayers are with the families grieving their loved ones, those who are in critical condition, and everyone who has been affected by this horrific event.”

He thanked police officers and other first responders for their “courage and fast action” that prevented further tragedy.

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on X that he was shocked to hear of the shooting.

“May the police find the monster responsible for this innocent loss of life,” he said in an X post .

Toronto Police asked the public to share any videos they have of the shooting and the aftermath to help their investigation.

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