On what was supposed to be a celebratory night, the grand opening of a new pub at Scarborough Town Centre on Friday was met with gunfire, sending 12 people to the hospital.
Toronto police said three suspects who were armed with an assault rifle and two handguns entered Piper Arms at 520 Progress Avenue.
“They walked into the bar. They produced their guns, and they opened fire indiscriminately on the people sitting inside the bar,” Supt. Paul MacIntyre of Organized Crime Enforcement told reporters at the scene.
Police, fire and paramedic services received the call for the shooting at 10:40 p.m.
Of the 12 victims, six suffered gunshot wounds, police said, adding that injuries were non-life-threatening. The victims are in their 20s to their mid-50s.Police said they were looking for three male suspects. They initially indicated that the suspects might have fled in a silver car and that one was wearing a black balaclava.
Police said they were deploying all available resources to locate the suspects.
Police have set up a command post at the scene. It is unclear what led to the shooting.
