Two Killed at Toronto Salsa Festival in Extremely Un-Canadian Outburst of Street Violence

TORONTO — A city better known for politeness, orderly lines and apologizing after minor collisions was shaken Saturday night when gunfire erupted at a crowded street festival, leaving at least two people dead and four others seriously wounded.

The shooting happened during the Salsa on St. Clair festival in Midtown Toronto, an annual celebration of Latin music, food and dancing that draws thousands of people.

Police initially warned of a possible active shooter, which seemed especially alarming in a country where even arguments are generally expected to end with someone saying, “Sorry, I may have misunderstood you.”

Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo later said the incident was not an active-shooter attack, but rather an exchange of gunfire between several individuals.

“It’s very difficult to say with certainty what precipitated this,” Barredo said. Police recovered two firearms and established three separate crime scenes.

Officers arrived to find six people suffering from gunshot wounds. Two died at the scene, while four others were taken to hospitals in serious condition.

Authorities said it was not yet clear whether any of the shooters were among the dead or wounded.

Approximately 13,000 people were believed to be attending the festival at the time. No arrests had been made, and police said they were still trying to determine how many people had been involved.

The violence stunned residents accustomed to thinking of Canada as a place where public disputes are handled through passive-aggressive notes, municipal complaints and sternly worded comments about parking etiquette.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the shooting “senseless violence” and said those responsible must be caught and brought to justice.

His statement was considerably less forgiving than the traditional Canadian response of offering a coffee, lowering one’s voice and asking everyone to please calm down.

Police continued reviewing witness statements, surveillance video and other evidence as they worked to determine what triggered the deadly confrontation.

For Toronto, the attack was a grim reminder that even a city famous for civility can experience the same sudden and brutal violence seen elsewhere—and that apparently not every disagreement can be settled with a reluctant apology and a box of Timbits.