"Another tragedy in our city this year": In the middle of Sunday night violence, shooting in Toronto is on the rise



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Gunshots rang out Sunday night in the middle of a bustling Toronto neighborhood, killing a girl and a young woman who are now linked to more than 200 shootings in the city since the beginning of the year. year.

It was around 22 hours. On Sunday, one shooter fired a shot after the other while the locals sat down for dinner in an area populated with bars and restaurants, police said.

The gunman killed the 10-year-old girl and the 18-year-old woman and wounded 13 others. Police killed the suspect in a shootout, authorities said.

  PHOTO: Police are seen near the scene of a mbad shooting in Toronto, July 22, 2018. Chris Helgren / Reuters
Police are seen near a shootout en mbade in Toronto July 22, 2018

Toronto Mayor John Tory called it Monday "tragedy – another tragedy in our city this year", where shooting is up for his 2, 9 million inhabitants.

Since 2014, shootings and shootings have more than doubled in Toronto last year, according to the Toronto Police Department. Statistics in the first half of 2018 show similar increases.

Year to date (to July 16)
2014: 97 shootings, 123 victims
2015: 160 shootings, 255 victims
2016: 201 shootings, 285 victims
2017: 196 shootings, 286 victims
2018: 220 shootings, 286 victims

End of the year
2014: 177 shootings, 242 victims
2015: 288 shootings, 429 victims
2016: 407 shootings, 581 casualties
2017: 395 shootings, 594 casualties

ABC News
Police statistics on shootings and casualties in Toronto.

Compared to other Canadian cities, Toronto has seen many more homicides according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which represents police leaders in major US and Canadian cities.

Here is a sampling:

Montreal Police
2016: 23 homicides, 60 non-fatal shootings
2017: 27 homicides, 46 non-fatal shootings

Ottawa Police
] 2016: 25 homicides, 56 nonfatal shootings
2017: 17 homicides, 68 nonfatal shootings

Vancouver Police
2016: 12 homicides, 23 nonfatal shootings
2017: 19 homicides, 27 non-fatal shootings
[19659002] Toronto Police
2016: 74 homicides, 152 non-fatal shootings
2017: 61 homicides, 150 non-fatal shootings

In Toronto, "The vast majority The game of weapons in the city may be badociated in one way or another to a street gang, "said Police Chief Mark Saunders at CP24 earlier this month -this.

"This is indicated to specific people: a random person walking down the street, it is highly unlikely that they are in danger," he said, weeks before the Sunday shootout that cost the life to two young people.

  PHOTO: Police secures scene of a shooting in Toronto, July 22, 2018. Nathan Denette / AP
Police secures scene of a shooting in Toronto on 22 July 2018.

Saunders acknowledged at CP24 that there has been an increase in shootings and homicides, but told the media, "When we go back in 2016, the numbers are almost the same level."

The Toronto Police did not immediately respond to ABC News's request for comment.

Although the Toronto shootings are rising and worrying, they are modest by US standards.

Take Chicago, which is about the size of Toronto with a population of about 2.7 million people, but about seven times more shots last year, with 2,785, according to the Chicago Sun -Times.

Overall, Canada sees far fewer homicides than the United States, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

Canada
2016: 225 homicides
2017: 217 homicides

United States
2016: 7,044 homicides
2017: 6,791 homicides
[19659002 "The United States has experienced a higher level of violent crime and gun violence, particularly in our major urban areas," said John Cohen, ABC News contributor and former US Departmental Coordinator. of Internal Security. "Historically, Canada has not experienced the same levels of violent crime as those seen here in the big cities of the United States.

But despite differences in day-to-day crime, attacks like Sunday's mbad shooting are a common theme in the United States, Europe, and Canada, Cohen said.

"Canadian law enforcement, as well as law enforcement in the United States and Europe, are seeking more effective ways to counter the emergence of the threat posed by individuals motivated by an ideological or non-ideological cause, and to commit mbad attacks, "Cohen said.
As authorities investigate Sunday's shooting, Cohen said, "What the law enforcement are going to examine is that this specific incident is a consequence of a general increase in crime. violent or is it an act committed by an unhappy person? in favor of an ideological cause or grievance. "

  PHOTO: Police are seen near the scene of a mbad shooting in Toronto, July 22, 2018. Chris Helgren / Reuters
Police are seen near a shootout en mbade in Toronto July 22, 2018

Following the Sunday night shooting, Toronto Mayor Tory told city council on Monday that there was to be a discussion about the access to firearms.

"Armed violence in any part of our city is completely horrible and unacceptable," he said. "I've been saying for some time that the city has a gun problem, as far as firearms are too readily available for far too many people."

He added: "You've heard me ask the question of why someone would need 10 or 20 guns, which he can legally do under current laws, and this brings us to another question that we need to discuss: does this city need a gun?

Saunders, the city's police, offered to do their part.

"We have all levels of government here to help, to understand what we can do to stop us from the point of view of a city and a national perspective," he said. told reporters Monday.

I think it is an excellent opportunity for our office to determine what we can do according to today 's world, the current environment and what we are doing. We must go forward, "said Mr. Saunders, what are the challenges ahead and how can we help each other go forward.

ABC News & # 39; Felisa Fine contributed to this report.

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