At least two people were killed and four more wounded after a shootout occurred at a street festival in Toronto, Canada, authorities said.
The Toronto Police Service had initially described the incident as an active shooter situation. However, in a news conference late Saturday night, Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo clarified that it was not.
“There was some concern of an active shooter. That turned out not to be the case,” Barredo said.
The shooting occurred in Midtown Toronto during the Salsa on St. Clair festival, a popular annual Latin festival that draws thousands of people.
Emergency Task Force vehicles and police officers are seen on the site of a shooting in Toronto, Canada, on July 11, 2026.
Jorge UZON / AFP via Getty Images
“It’s very difficult to say with certainty what precipitated this,” Barredo said. “I can tell you that there was an exchange of gunfire between individuals and that two firearms were recovered.”
Barredo said that officers responded to find six people with gunshot wounds, two of whom died at the scene. The four wounded patients were taken to area hospitals, all in serious condition.
It was not known if any of the suspects were among the victims, the deputy chief said.
About 13,00 people were believed to have attended the festival Saturday, Barredo said, disclosing that there were three separate crime scenes. The number of shots fired was also not confirmed.
“We will piece together some of those bits of information, and when we’re able to share it with the public, we certainly will,” the deputy chief added.
No suspects have been arrested, Barredo said, noting that the exact number of suspects involved was still unknown.
“I am devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed two lives and injured others,” Ontario “Premier Doug Ford said in a statement to X. “… The person responsible must be caught, brought to justice and spend the rest of their life behind bars.”
