Calling any act of gun violence “totally unacceptable”, he said the shootings that have taken place in the city over the past two days, particularly the “heartbreaking killing of a 15-year-old boy”, are “extremely disturbing”.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of this young boy and all those affected by gun violence,” Tory said in a statement provided to CTV News.
“I urge anyone with information about any of these criminal acts to contact the Toronto Police who are working to solve each case.”
Toronto police said there is no further statement at this time. However, a media officer is expected to speak to CP24 later this afternoon.
Yesterday, 15-year-old Shalldon Samuda, of Toronto, died in hospital after being shot early Saturday morning in North York, near Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue West.
Late Saturday night, a 19-year-old man was rushed to the hospital after another shooting in North York, this time near Willowdale and Church avenues.
Early Sunday morning, a woman in her 20s was critically injured after a shooting in Etobicoke near Eglinton Avenue West and Russell Road.
A man was also rushed to hospital this morning after a shooting near University Avenue and Adelaide Street.
Toronto police were also called to a shooting at Club Paradise, near Bloor Street West and Lansdowne Avenue, this morning. In this case, two men were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
“The death and destruction that gun violence causes in all our communities is unacceptable and I am committed to ensuring that all governments work together to do everything possible to effectively tackle gun violence and preserve communities keep us safe,” Tory said, adding that the city has a “comprehensive approach to ending gun violence” and will “continue to work with the federal and provincial governments to make sure we also fight the flow as hard as possible of illegal weapons at the US border”.
Tory went on to say they are “supporting the police to tackle gun and gang violence in our communities, we are working to strengthen sentences and bail for gun crime, and we – all three governments – continue to invest in children and families and to address the roots of gun violence.”
