Two dead, multiple wounded as gunfire erupts at Toronto's Salsa on St. Clair street festival

What happened

A shooting at the annual Salsa on St. Clair street festival in Toronto killed two men and wounded at least four others on Saturday, 11 July 2026. The incident began shortly after 8:00 p.m. local time near the intersection of St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, where the two-day celebration of Latin American culture was underway. Deputy Police Chief Frank Barredo told reporters that investigators recovered two firearms at the scene and believe the gunfire was "an exchange of shots between two individuals who were targeting each other," not an indiscriminate attack.

There was an exchange of shots between two individuals and two firearms were found at the scene.

Officers initially issued an emergency alert warning of an active shooter, but Barredo later clarified that this was based on limited early information. Police worked through three distinct crime scenes as they gathered evidence from the festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors over its two-day run, with approximately 13,000 people present at the time of the shooting.

The victims and the investigation

Two men were pronounced dead, one at the scene and a second who succumbed to injuries after being transported to hospital. Between four and five other victims were being treated for gunshot wounds, though authorities had not released their conditions by late Saturday night. No arrests had been made, and investigators had not ruled out the possibility that more than two people were involved in the shooting.

It is a complex investigation due to the enormous number of people involved and the amount of information being collected.

Hundreds of panicked attendees fled the area as the music stopped and police swarmed the site. A CP24 journalist present at the festival described the scene: people were dancing and enjoying themselves before the shots rang out, then the atmosphere shifted instantly. Officers urged the crowd to leave and avoid the area while they secured the scene.

Official reactions

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "horrified" by the shooting and offered condolences to the families of the victims. He thanked police and first responders for their "courage and swift action" in preventing a greater tragedy. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she was "deeply upset and angry at this irresponsible act of violence, in the middle of a festival attended by families, children and seniors." Deputy Mayor Mike Colle described the incident as "gangster violence."

I am deeply disturbed and angry at this irresponsible act of violence in the midst of a festival attended by families, children and the elderly.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called for the perpetrators to be caught and severely punished. The police maintained a heavy presence in the area through the night and urged anyone with information or video footage to contact investigators.