Three people are dead following three separate overnight homicides in Toronto and neighbouring Mississauga, police say.
The string of slayings began at 11:57 p.m. on Monday when Toronto police received a call for the sound of gunshots in Lawrence Square Plaza near Allen Road and Lawrence Avenue West.
When officers arrived on scene, they said they found a man in his 20s who had been shot multiple times. He was taken to hospital where he later died.
At 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, police received calls for a stabbing near a restaurant at Jane Street and St. Clair Avenue West. When they arrived on scene, police said they found a man who was stabbed; they later died on scene.
Their age was not made immediately available.
“We certainly understand the community’s concern. Address gun violence is a top priority to Toronto police,” Duty Insp. Todd Jocko told reporters on Tuesday.
“We’re doing all we can to address the situation the violence occurring recently.”
Man dead following triple shooting inside Mississauga home
In Mississauga, Peel Regional Police said officers received a call for a shooting at 3:47 a.m. at Central Parkway and Joan Drive.
Const. Mandeep Khatra told reporters on Tuesday officers went to a home and found a man in his 50s with life-threatening injures. He was taken to hospital where he later died.
Two other men were found with non-life-threatening injures, and were taken to hospital. Khatra said three suspects, who were on foot, were at a residence in the area and tried to force entrance. He added an altercation of some sort unfolded before the shooting took place.
No suspect description was made available.
Man seriously injured in laneway shooting
Meanwhile at 1:03 a.m., Toronto police responded to a shooting at Laird Drive and Eglinton Avenue East.
When officers arrived on scene, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
No suspect information was released.
Anyone with information in any of the overnight cases is asked to contact police.