New details have been released about the 14-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man who died by gunfire at the outdoor block party shooting in Scarborough on Monday night.
Toronto police chief Bill Blair spoke to the media on Tuesday morning about the gun fight, which left a total of 21 others injured, including a 22-month-old. Blair confirmed that two shooters began firing at around 10:40 p.m. near Morningside Avenue and Lawrence Avenue, and said “there is a strong indication there may have been gang involvement.” He went on to mention that the two victims, later identified as Shyanne Charles, 14, and Joshua Yasay, 23, were “completely innocent,” but remains concerned for, “the potential for retaliatory violence.”
Still, the most interesting compilation of details from the night came from a Redditor, who scanned Twitter to assemble a first-hand account of the events. The poster, BitchslappedByLogic, has uncovered specific information about the night, and tweets saying the shooters, “touched the wrong people” and, “this isn’t over.” The original post has since been edited to include new details and screencaps of the tweets, after the aforementioned accounts were deactivated or deleted.
This shooting marks the fourth incident of gun violence in Toronto since June. The first happened at the Eaton Centre on June 2, and was followed by an unrelated shooting in Little Italy on June 18. Before Monday’s events, there was also gun violence at Ashbridges Bay, on Canada Day.
Speaking to Monday night’s events, Mayor Rob Ford said, “I am shocked and disgusted by this senseless act of violence.”
“While we try to understand this tragic event, I want to assure residents that this horrific, criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in our City.”
Toronto police are asking witnesses and people who attended the party to call them with information at 416-808-4300.
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Joanna Adams is the online and social media editor for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at†@nowstarringTO.
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