A 20-year-old man has died and another is in serious condition after a shooting near a Toronto skateboard park Tuesday evening, officials say.
Emergency crews were called to the Vanderhoof Skatepark, located beside Leonard Linton Park and southwest of Leslie Street and Eglinton Avenue East, just after 7:30 p.m.
Neighbours and those at the park reported hearing multiple gunshots. The two male victims were found a short time later. Witnesses told Global News the incident happened near the skatepark and that it appeared the gunfire happened closer to Research Road on the south side of the park.
A spokesperson for Toronto Paramedics told Global News one of the two patients was taken to hospital with critical injuries. A police spokesperson said the victim, who was later identified as Maaz Jogiyat, died in hospital.
The spokesperson said the second victim had serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Police later said his injuries were considered minor
Saman Samiee Asfahani, who has lived in the neighbourhood for three years, said he and his family just returned home from visiting another park when his daughter saw a friend in the park near the shooting scene. A short time later he said he heard the gunfire.
“I just called for my daughter and my wife, grabbed my daughter, and ran to my friend’s house,” Samiee Asfahani told reporters.
“I’m so scared. I’m not happy.”
Anyone with information was asked to call the Toronto police homicide squad at 416-808-7400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.