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‘This was an intentional act:’ Driver hits 3 pedestrians in Toronto, kills 1

Click to play video: 'A 79-year-old man is charged with First Degree Murder and two counts of attempted murder after striking three pedestrians with his car'
A 79-year-old man is charged with First Degree Murder and two counts of attempted murder after striking three pedestrians with his car
A 79-year-old man is charged with First Degree Murder and two counts of attempted murder after striking three pedestrians with his car As Catherine McDonald reports, witnesses say Ciro Garafano was arrested at the scene and was sitting in his vehicle when police arrived – Nov 16, 2023

A woman is dead and two other people are injured after they were hit by a vehicle in Toronto on Wednesday in what police believe was an intentional act.

Toronto police said the incident happened in an apartment building parking lot at around 12:40 p.m. in the Victoria Park Avenue and Cassandra Boulevard area, just north of Lawrence Avenue.

In an update on Wednesday night, Det. Sgt. Brandon Price said three people were injured, with one of them dying from their injuries, after being hit by a single motor vehicle. Police originally said four people were injured.

“There was one adult female, one adult male and one elderly female who were injured,” Price said. “Following life-saving intervention, the adult female ultimately passed away.”

The other two victims, the man and the elderly female, suffered serious injuries that are now believed to be non-life-threatening, Price said.

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The driver of the vehicle, an elderly man, remained at the scene and was arrested.

“We have learned that this was an intentional act on the part of the arrested party,” Price said.

He said those involved knew each other and that there is a “familial relationship.”

“There is no further or ongoing risk to the public at this time,” he said.

Police at the scene after multiple people were hit by a vehicle in a Toronto parking lot on Wednesday. Lauren O'Neil / Global News

On Thursday, police said the woman who died was a 61-year-old Toronto resident.

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The accused was identified as 79-year-old Toronto resident Ciro Garofano, who has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

In an earlier update on Wednesday, Insp. Keri Fernandes was asked about a report that the driver circled the parking lot and struck the victims repeatedly.

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“We are in the very early stages of this investigation. A lot of information is still coming in and I can’t comment on it,” she said in response.

There is no word on if the accused or victims lived at the apartment building where the incident happened.

Click to play video: 'Toronto collision: Police say 1 dead, 3 injured after pedestrians struck in potential homicide'
Toronto collision: Police say 1 dead, 3 injured after pedestrians struck in potential homicide
Phil Pang / Global News

Image of the scene in Toronto after multiple pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in an apartment building parking lot on Nov. 15, 2023.

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