An 18-year-old student is dead after a shooting at a high school in Toronto, police said.
According to Toronto police, officers received reports of a shooting in the area of Midland and Lawrence avenues at around 3 p.m.
In a tweet, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) confirmed the shooting took place at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute, saying that the incident “occurred shortly after dismissal.”
Speaking at a press conference, Const. Alex Li of Toronto police said officers located a male victim with a gunshot wound.
Duty Insp. Richard Harris confirmed the 18-year-old victim was a student at the school.
He said homicide investigators have now taken over.
According to Harris, police believe this was a targeted event, and said there is no threat to residents in the area.
Harris said the shooting happened within the school, and the entire main floor is now considered to be a crime scene.
He said police are now in the early stages of investigation, and did not have any information regarding a suspect.
According to Harris, the suspect fled the scene.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Toronto Mayor John Tory said “any act of violence which takes place in a school is both tragic and unacceptable.”
“My thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim and the students and staff at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute,” he said. “As we await for more details, I want to express my profound sadness that the lives of youth in our city are being taken at the hands of gun violence.”
Tory said he has spoken with Toronto Police Chief James Ramer.
“Chief Ramer has made it clear that no stone will be left unturned in finding out why this happened and to bring those responsible to justice,” Tory said. “I urge anyone with information to come forward.”
In a tweet, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said it is “so very sad to hear of the loss of a high school student to another senseless shooting in Toronto.”
“Thinking of the family, the school, and the entire community impacted by this devastating news,” Lecce said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was “absolutely devastated” to hear about the death of the student.
“We must work together to rid our communities of gun violence,” he wrote in a tweet. “I fully support the police as they investigate this tragedy and work to bring those responsible to justice.”
In a statement Monday, TDSB Director of Education Colleen Russell-Rawlins said the board is “grieving the tragic loss of a TDSB student” as a result of the shooting.
“On behalf of the Toronto District School Board, I want to extend our sincere condolences to the student’s family, friends and loved ones, along with the entire school community following this heartbreaking incident,” the statement reads.
Russell-Rawlins said the TDSB will be supporting the student’s family in “every way possible,” and will be “ensuring that students and staff are supported at the school in the days and weeks ahead.”
She said the board will continue to assist Toronto police with their investigation, and “will also undertake our own investigation.”
“I would encourage parents and guardians to contact the school should they have any questions or require additional support for their child or family,” the statement reads.
TDSB spokesperson Shari Schwartz-Maltz said the school will be closed on Tuesday, and will pivot to online learning as the investigation continues.
“Hopefully it’s just one day but we’ll continue to communicate with parents as to future plans,” she said.
Students or staff wishing to access support services are invited to gather at McGregor Park Community Centre at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to Schwartz-Maltz, the TDSB’s “entire professional support team,” including psychologists, social workers and Caring and Safe School representatives will be made available.
Kids Help Phone also offered its “sympathies and support” to those affected by the incident.
“For anyone who may want to talk, our team of counsellors and crisis responders is here 24/7,” a tweet from the company reads.
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