A lively summer street festival in Toronto was shattered by gunfire Saturday night when a shooter fired into the crowd, killing two people and injuring six others.
Terrified attendees fled in every direction as police moved quickly to search for the gunman.
The fatal shooting broke out at the popular Salsa on St. Clair festival, abruptly turning an evening filled with music, dancing and community celebration into an active crime scene.
Witnesses described scenes of fear and confusion as shots echoed through the area. Some people tried to protect their children, while others rushed into nearby restaurants, knocking over patio furniture as they escaped.
Toronto Police said officers were dispatched at 8:12 p.m. following reports of a shooting near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, where thousands had gathered for the annual cultural celebration.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found five victims with gunshot injuries.
Police officers secure the area following a deadly shooting at a salsa-themed street festival in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Emergency Task Force vehicles and police officers are pictured at the scene of the shooting
Police officers stand guard at the site of a deadly shooting at a salsa street festival in Toronto
Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene while six others were rushed for medical treatment, although authorities have not yet released details about the extent of their injuries.
Police have not identified the victims, and investigators had not released any information about a possible suspect as the search continued late into the evening.
Authorities described the situation as an active shooter investigation and urged members of the public to stay far away from the area while officers secured the scene.
‘Please avoid the area immediately,’ Toronto Police said in a social media update.
The shooting unfolded at the Salsa on St. Clair festival, one of Toronto’s best-known summer celebrations, which had closed a stretch of St. Clair Avenue West between Winona Drive and Christie Street for live entertainment, food vendors and cultural performances.
Ana Bettencourt was only one block from the shooting occurred and thought she could hear ‘muffled powerful fireworks.’
‘And then everyone started running, which obviously then I did the same. We just trampled over each other and were running and took one of the side streets,’ she said to CTV.
When she heard a shooter was on the loose, she ducked for cover.
‘That was equally scary. If anything, it was scarier for me then. Myself plus a number of people of course, we started trampling around and running. (I) went to another alleyway and then ducked under a car, just waiting until the commotion died down,’ she said.
‘All I wanted to do was to get out of that area and whatever cost,’ Bettencourt said.
Emergency crews respond to the scene after gunfire erupted at Toronto’s Salsa on St. Clair festival, leaving two people dead and three others injured
Armed Toronto police officers secure the intersection near St. Clair Avenue West as investigators respond to the deadly mass shooting
First responders wheel a stretcher through the festival area after five people were shot during the deadly attack on Saturday evening
Police flood the normally bustling Salsa on St. Clair festival as authorities hunt for the gunman following the deadly shooting
Crime scene tape surrounds part of St. Clair Avenue West as Toronto police examine the area where two people were killed and six others wounded
Instead of music and dancing, the area was suddenly flooded with police officers, paramedics and emergency responders as investigators worked to determine exactly what happened.
Another festival attendee, Jacy Lin, said everything happened extremely quickly.
‘Everybody was just leaving,’ she said to CP24. ‘Everything happened so fast.’
The normally festive street was quickly sealed off as authorities searched for evidence and attempted to track down whoever was responsible for the deadly attack.
Police later said the scene had been secured. No information on a suspect or arrests was immediately released.
Police secure a section of St. Clair Avenue West after a gunman opened fire during Toronto’s Salsa on St. Clair festival
Toronto police officers patrol the festival area as the force’s command vehicle is deployed to the scene of the deadly shooting
Police hold back crowds as they respond to an active shooter at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Keito Newman/The Canadian Press via AP)
Armed officers move through the street festival as investigators search for the gunman following the attack that left two people dead
Police vehicles block an intersection near the festival as emergency responders lock down the area during the active shooting investigation
A police vehicle makes its way as people gather near the scene after the deadly shooting
People gather as emergency workers respond to the scene
Police officers stand guard at the scene following Saturday evening’s deadly shooting
Toronto’s Mayor Doug Ford released a statement following the shooting
Toronto’s Mayor Doug Ford released a statement following the shooting.
‘I am devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed two lives and injured others. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected,’ Ford wrote on X.
‘Thank you to Toronto Police and our first responders for responding to this horrific incident. The person responsible must be caught, brought to justice and spend the rest of their life behind bars.’
Salsa in Toronto is a Latino themed cultural celebration.
