Cancellation of the "Salsa on St. Clair" festival in Toronto after a shooting that killed two people

The organizers of the «Salsa on St. Clair» festival announced the cancellation of the remaining events in Toronto, following the shooting incident that occurred on Saturday evening amid the crowd, resulting in the death of two people and the injury of four others.

The cancellation decision came as criminal investigations continued and police spread around the incident site, where parts of St. Clair Street remained closed to traffic and the public to allow investigators to collect evidence and examine the crime scene.

The police had responded to reports of gunfire during the festival before finding six people injured by gunshots. Two of them were declared dead, while the others were transported to the hospital for treatment.

Preliminary information indicates an exchange of gunfire between several individuals inside the festival area, while the police confirmed the seizure of two firearms at the site.

Deputy Chief of Toronto Police Frank Paredeau said the scene was very chaotic due to the density of the crowd and the spread of people on the street at the time of the incident, explaining that investigators are working to determine the sequence of events and the identity of all involved.

The police have not yet announced any arrests, nor have they revealed the identities of the deceased or full details regarding the injured cases.

Despite the ongoing search for suspects, the police confirmed that they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public, indicating that the available data suggests the shooting was a confrontation between specific individuals, not a random attack targeting festival visitors.

The police called on everyone who was present in the area at the time of the incident to provide any information or video recordings that may help in the investigation, including mobile phone clips, vehicle cameras, and footage from nearby shops and buildings.

For their part, the festival organizers expressed their sadness over the incident, confirming that the cancellation of the events was out of respect for the victims and their families, to ensure public safety and to allow the police to carry out their work.

«Salsa on St. Clair» is one of the largest Latin festivals in Canada, held annually along St. Clair Street westward, attracting large numbers of visitors to attend musical and dance performances and cultural events.

The events were scheduled to continue on Sunday, but the shooting incident abruptly ended the festival, turning one of Toronto’s most prominent summer celebrations into a scene of a wide criminal investigation.