Toronto police are pleading with the public for information to solve three “vicious” and “horrific” shootings that occurred since the summer.
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Supt. Ron Taverner sounded the alarm over the level of gun violence in the city’s northwest, saying that this year, a little less than 40 per cent of all reported gunfire in the city occurred in the area.
“I’m pissed off that the people of this community have to put up with this,” he said. “There are good people in this area. Ninety-nine per cent of these people are good people that are living in these communities that deserve better.”
He said Toronto police have increased their presence in the neighbourhoods and asked residents to provide any information to police and Crime Stoppers.
“We need people to come forward. We need the support of the community,” he said.
WATCH: Toronto police say gun violence is ‘beyond belief’
Taverner showed videos of three separate, non-fatal shootings that have occurred since June, none of which police believe to have been targeted.
In one of the incidents, a robbery that occurred on June 10, Taverner said the victim is still in hospital after being pistol-whipped and then shot multiple times.
It happened at a parking lot near Jane and Steeles at about 4 a.m. Three men are wanted in the investigation.
In another case, which occurred on the night of Aug. 30 near John Garland Boulevard and Martin Grove Road, two men showed up in a yard and started shooting “randomly” at people, Taverner said.
A then-20-year-old man was shot, though his injuries were non-life-threatening, police said.
WATCH: Police release security camera video of three separate shootings (WARNING: graphic content)
“These are just innocent people who were in a backyard having a barbecue,” Taverner said.
“Total disregard for human life.”
On Oct. 30 in the Jamestown Crescent and John Garland Boulevard area, two men in their 40s were shot in a parking lot. One was hit in the arm and the other, whose injuries were more serious, may still be in hospital, Taverner said.
They were part of a group that was approached from behind by two masked men.
According to the most recent figures available, there have been 352 shootings in Toronto this year, including 127 which took place in the areas serviced by the 12, 23, 31 policing divisions in the city’s northwest.
In those shootings, 14 people were killed and 42 were injured.
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