Five people were shot dead by a gunman who went on a rampage in suburban Toronto condo building before cops stormed the building and killed him.
Canadian police say the unnamed suspect started shooting in an apartment complex in Vaughan, Ontario, shortly before 7.30pm on Sunday night.
The ‘elderly resident’, 73, reportedly shot five residents dead in different apartments – believed to be condo board members – before being shot by police.
He is understood to have lodged a civil complaint against the condo corporation for $1million – but his exact grievances are unclear.
On arrival officers were confronted by the gunman at the building near Jane Street and Rutherford Road.
Inside emergency services found a ‘horrendous scene’ and have since confirmed that a total of six people, including the suspect, have died.
The horrific incident took place in the suburbs 30km (20 miles) north of downtown Toronto, a city that prides itself on its longstanding safety.
The type of weapon used in the latest incident has not been disclosed by police – the sale of handguns was banned in Canada earlier this year in response to a mass shooting that saw 22 people killed in Nova Scotia in April 2020.
Chief James MacSween, of York Regional Police, said: ‘There is no further threat to the community at this point. We offer our sincere condolences to the victims and their families.’
MacSween said a seventh person shot by the suspect was in the hospital. But they are expected to survive their gunshot injuries.
Police located one woman at the condo who had been shot in the face. She is believed to be one of the deceased, reports City News Toronto.
MacSween said he didn’t have details on whether the shooter was a resident of the building or what the motive for the massacre may be.
Ontario´s Special Investigations Unit, which gets involved when there is a death or serious injury involving police, is investigating.
Armed police were seen storming the building following the reporters of gunfire.
Teams of emergency services then locked off the apartment building while ambulances worked to help surviving victims.
Five killed in Toronto shooting: police
York Regional Police say 5 people have been killed in a #shooting tonight at a condo building in Vaughan, Ontario, north of #Toronto #Canada pic.twitter.com/Nqcf0Kz1Ew
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) December 19, 2022
Constable Laura Nicolle, who was at the scene, told CNN it was the ‘most terrible call I’ve seen in my entire career’.
She added that it appeared the victims had been found in different apartments in the building.
Police have not yet named any of the deceased victims of Sunday’s fatal shooting and have not revealed the identity of the suspect.
Cops evacuated the building but MacSween said there is no further threat to the community. He said they hoped to have residents back in their units within hours.
In September this year, a man killed 11 people and stabbed 18 others, mainly in an isolated indigenous community in Saskatchewan province.
The horrific killing spree, which sparked a massive four-day manhunt, was ended after the deaths of the brothers Damien and Myles Sanderson, with the latter appearing to commit suicide in police custody.
Firearms-related violent crimes account for less than three percent of all violent crimes in Canada – but since 2009 the per capita rate of guns being fired with intent to kill or wound has increased five-fold.
Canada banned 1,500 types of military-grade or assault-style firearms in May 2020, days after the Nova Scotia shooting.
