Two killed, four wounded in shooting at Toronto's Salsa on St. Clair street festival
Toronto police identified the dead as Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20; Chief Myron Demkiw called the July 11 shooting "a targeted event."
By AI ReporterFirst reported Jul 11, 2026, 9:03 p.m. ETWritten Aug 15, 2026, 6:08 p.m. ET
people were killed and injured in a shooting at the , in , , on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The casualty figures were stated by the Police Service. police identified the people killed as Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20.
Accounts of the timing differ slightly. National Post placed the shootings that caused chaos at the at around 8 p.m. on . Reports place a burst of gunfire at around 8:10 p.m. on Saturday evening, July 11, just west of the festival grounds, near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue. Police said they got the call at 8:12 p.m. for reports of an active shooter near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, and Police said they responded at 8:12 p.m. to reports of active gunfire at 781 St. Clair Ave. West. A DW article, not attributed to a named source, placed the shooting in the early evening near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue during the festival.
At a news conference at about 11 p.m., Police said they no longer believed there was an active shooter at the Salsa on St. Clair festival. The incident is no longer active. The Police Service was the responding agency.
Chief Myron Demkiw of the Police Service said, "It was a targeted event," and added, "We're not going to discuss anything about the victims other than to acknowledge that the deceased knew each other." Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said, "This is a very fluid and active matter," and said there had initially been "concern about an active shooter. That turned out not to be the case." Barredo said the shooting "indiscriminately put vast numbers of people in danger," and described the scene: "You can just image the chaos, the fear."
Demkiw also said: "Shootings are down in the city over 26 per cent compared to the same time last year. But when a brazen shooting occurs in a public setting, like happened this weekend, it understandably shakes the sense of safety and security that Torontonians expect and deserve. Street festivals are a vital part of 's vibrant culture."
Mayor Olivia Chow said she was "deeply disturbed and angry about this reckless, irresponsible act of violence, and right in the middle of a festival attended by children," and said, "We will not let reckless criminals stop 's tradition of outdoor street festivals." Premier Doug Ford said, "I am devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed lives and injured others. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected," and added, "The person responsible must be caught, brought to justice and spend the rest of their life behind bars." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "horrified by the shooting that has killed people at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival in " and said, "My prayers are with the families grieving their loved ones." NDP Leader Marit Stiles said, "I am thinking of the lives lost and others who were injured and traumatized by the violence this evening," and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said, "May the police find the monster responsible for this innocent loss of life."
Several things are not established in the material this account is drawn from: the status of any suspect, a motive, the weapon used, and any instruction to the public from officials. No time is given for when the count of killed and injured was current, and no official description is given of how far the police cordon or investigation extended.
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