2018 Toronto shooting

Around 10:00{{nbsp}}p.m. EDT on July 22, 2018, Faisal Hussain walked along Toronto's busy Danforth Avenue in the Greektown area of the city, randomly shooting pedestrians before opening fire on crowded restaurants.{{Cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/23/multiple-casualties-in-shooting-near-toronto-restaurant |title=Toronto shooting: woman and gunman dead, 13 others injured in Danforth Avenue attack|last= Lyons |first= Kate |date=July 23, 2018|website=The Guardian |access-date= July 23, 2018}}{{Cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/07/23/toronto-mass-shooting-9-hit-as-gunman-opened-fire-sunday-night-shooter-dead-police-say/ |title=Toronto mass shooting: 14 hit, 1 dead, as gunman opens fire Sunday night. Shooter killed |last= Swenson |first= Kyle |date=July 23, 2018 |newspaper= The Washington Post |access-date= July 23, 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-one-dead-13-injured-gunman-killed-in-toronto-mass-shooting/ |title=10-year-old girl, 18-year-old woman killed in Toronto mass shooting |work=The Globe and Mail |date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=July 23, 2018}} The incident began around Danforth and Logan Avenues near Christina's restaurant. Some witnesses described 10 to 15 blasts similar to firecrackers, while others reported hearing gunshots and seeing a man holding a gun.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/07/23/theres-a-man-with-a-gun-madness-descends-upon-the-danforth.html|title='There's a man with a gun!' Chaos descends upon the Danforth|website=Toronto Star|date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2019}} Further along the Danforth at Chester Avenue, witnesses said they saw a man shooting from a sidewalk into another restaurant named Demetre's. The shooter continued to walk westbound on Danforth Avenue towards Hampton Avenue, where witnesses said the shooter crossed the street from the north side to the south side and fired into the 7Numbers restaurant near Bowden Street where one victim was shot.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/danforth-logan-shooting-1.4757409 |title=Woman and girl dead, 13 other people injured in Danforth shooting in Toronto |publisher=CBC News |date=July 22, 2018 |access-date=July 23, 2018}} The shooter chose not to shoot certain people he encountered, telling one man, "Don't worry, I'm not going to shoot you."{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-im-not-going-to-shoot-you-new-details-emerge-about-final-moments/|title=Toronto police search for clues to killer's path|access-date=February 13, 2019|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=July 24, 2018 }} TPS officers responded to calls from witnesses and located the gunman on Bowden Street and initiated a shootout with the suspect. The gunman ran back to Danforth Avenue where he was found dead.

At the corner of Danforth and Logan avenues, police cordoned off an area from bystanders and detonated an unidentified package for undisclosed reasons.

File:The restaurant involved in 2018 Danforth Shooting.jpg

18-year-old Reese Fallon and 10-year-old Julianna Kozis were killed in the attack.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/police-identify-girl-killed-in-danforth-rampage-as-julianna-kozis-1.4760538|title=Police identify girl killed in Danforth rampage as Julianna Kozis|publisher=cbc.ca|date=24 July 2018}}

Thirteen others suffered gunshot wounds, ranging in age from 17 to 59. Toronto Paramedic Services transported eight victims to trauma centres – including four people to St. Michael's Hospital, three to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and one to The Hospital for Sick Children. St. Michael's reported it was treating five patients. Three of them underwent immediate lifesaving surgery after the shooting and the others were in serious but stable condition.{{cite web | work = CTV News |url= https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/latest-updates-girl-10-and-woman-18-dead-in-toronto-rampage-1.4023804 |title= Latest updates: Girl, 10, and woman, 18, dead in Toronto rampage|date= July 23, 2018 }}

Two gunshot victims were treated at the nearby Michael Garron Hospital and were in stable condition. Five other patients were treated for issues related to the shooting, but were not shot.{{cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/2-killed-in-toronto-shooting-rampage-1.4023591|title=Mass shooting in Toronto: Three killed, 13 injured after gunman opens fire on Danforth|work=CTV News|access-date=July 24, 2018}}

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) identified the perpetrator as 29-year-old Faisal Hussain.

Hussain was born to parents of Pakistani origin according to people who knew the family.{{cite news|title=Toronto Shooter's Neighbors Unaware of His Mental Illness|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/07/24/world/ap-cn-canada-toronto-shooting-hussain.html|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725035239/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/07/24/world/ap-cn-canada-toronto-shooting-hussain.html|archive-date=July 25, 2018}} In a public statement, Hussain's parents said that he was psychotic and depressed throughout his life.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-shooting-gunman/toronto-gunman-a-puzzle-to-his-own-tight-knit-immigrant-community-idUSKBN1KE226|title=Toronto gunman a puzzle to his own tight-knit immigrant community|date=July 24, 2018|website=Reuters|access-date=July 25, 2018}} In 2010, Hussain told a friend that he was seeing a psychiatrist about these problems.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/faisal-hussein-friends-1.4758969|title='Like 2 different people': Friend of Faisal Hussain struggles to understand what sparked Danforth rampage - CBC News|website=cbc.ca|access-date=July 25, 2018}} A former teacher described him as "very disturbed" and recounted having to take him to a psychiatric facility after he started carving into his face with the blade of a pencil sharpener.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/07/25/danforth-shooter-was-afraid-he-was-going-to-hurt-people.html|title=Danforth shooter 'was afraid he was going to hurt people' - The Star|website=Toronto Star|date=July 25, 2018 }} Another former teacher called the police after Hussain allegedly said, without prompting, that "I want to kill someone."{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4352671/danforth-shooting-faisal-hussain-victoria-park-collegiate/|title=Toronto mass shooter Faisal Hussain previously said 'I want to kill someone': former teacher|date=25 July 2018}} His family had been struggling through the death of his sister in a car accident and his brother's ongoing coma after an overdose or a stroke.{{cite news |last1=Amanda Coletta |title=Gun in Danforth shooting stolen in Saskatoon break-and-enter: source |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/gun-in-danforth-shooting-stolen-in-saskatoon-break-and-enter-source-1.4030454 |access-date=30 July 2018 |work=CTV News |date=27 July 2018 |quote=an overdose left him in a coma in a hospital, where he remains today.}}{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4348575/toronto-gunman-mental-health-family/|title=Toronto gunman had 'severe mental health challenges', according to family|work=Global News|access-date=2018-07-25|language=en}} According to a neighbour, Hussain was not religious and declined to participate in Friday prayers.{{cite news|title=Who was Faisal Hussain? Toronto gunman was quiet and 'not normal,' neighbour says|url= https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/not-a-normal-person-toronto-gunman-faisal-hussain-quiet-didnt-seem-to-have-friends-neighbour-says|work=National Post|first1=Joseph|last1=Brean|first2=Jake|last2=Edmiston|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=August 4, 2018}} According to his brother, Hussain had "started attending a mosque with his father, but did not seem that interested in religion."

In 2010, Hussain was investigated by TPS under the provincial Mental Health Act.{{cite news|title=Danforth shooter investigated under Mental Health Act in 2010: Source|url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/danforth-shooter-investigated-under-mental-health-act-in-2010-source-1.4025316}} On July 24, 2018, the Ministry of Public Safety said there is currently no connection between him and national security.{{cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/973174ea78134b738a28622274aeeedd/Authorities-say-no-link-to-terrorism-in-Toronto-rampage,|title=Authorities say no link to terrorism in Toronto rampage|publisher=Associated Press|date=24 July 2018|access-date=24 July 2018}} He was not on any federal watchlists.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police did not identify a motive, saying that they were investigating "every possible motive, including terrorism."{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/22/americas/toronto-restaurant-shooting/index.html|title=Attacker in Toronto rampage that killed 2, injured 13 is identified|last1=Jones|first1=Sheena|date=July 23, 2018|work=CNN|access-date=July 24, 2018|last2=Park|first2=Madison}} In June 2019, authorities finished a year long investigation and could not determine a motive for the attack. Regarding the motive, Toronto police chief Mark Saunders said "we may never know why".

On July 23, police executed a search warrant at Hussain's residence in the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood of the city.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/09/19/details-on-danforth-gunman-reveled-in-documents-police-filed-to-obtain-search-warrant.html?source=newsletter |title=Details on Danforth gunman revealed in documents police filed to obtain search warrant |newspaper=Toronto Star |first1=Betsy |last1=Powell |first2=Wendy |last2=Gillis |date=September 20, 2018}} A day later, CBS News published that, according to a law enforcement source, Hussain visited ISIL websites which may have expressed his support for the Islamic militant group; he was also speculated to have previously lived in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but the investigation has revealed that his actions did not appear to be directed by ISIL.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faisal-hussain-toronto-shooting-rampage-new-details-emerge-about-gunman-2018-07-24/|title=Toronto shooting rampage: New details emerge about gunman Faisal Hussain|website=cbsnews.com|date=July 24, 2018 |access-date=July 25, 2018}} On July 25, Amaq News Agency, citing a "security source", stated that he was "from the soldiers of Islamic State",[https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/isil-claims-responsibility-for-toronto-danforth-shooting-but-releases-no-evidence-of-terror-link "ISIL claims responsibility for Toronto Danforth shooting, but police say there's 'no evidence' at this stage", Adrian Humphreys, The National Post] yet Toronto Police said there was no evidence of an ISIL connection.{{cite news|title='No evidence' Danforth shooter Faisal Hussain connected to ISIS, Toronto police say|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/no-evidence-faisal-hussain-connected-to-isis-toronto-police-1.4760817}} Amarnath Amarasingam of the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue doubted Amaq's claim and said it may have been prompted by the CBS News article.{{cite news|title=Islamic State claims responsibility for Toronto mass shooting, yet provides no evidence|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4351650/toronto-mass-shooting-islamic-state-no-evidence/}} Police noted that Hussain had mental health issues and a long time obsession with violence. He also recently developed an interest in incel ideology and police found a copy of Elliot Rodger's manifesto in Hussain's phone and electronic equipment.

File:The cafe involved in 2018 Danforth Shooting.jpg

Since Hussain was found dead after a shootout, the SIU looked into whether he was shot by police or shot himself. On July 23, it removed a police cruiser from the scene and said the two officers in it were being investigated for their roles in the shootout. Hussain's handgun was also seized. On July 25, a police source told CBC News that Hussain died by suicide. The same day, a police source told CP24 that the gun was from the United States and had been obtained from a "gang-related source".{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/toronto-shooter-s-gun-was-illegal-originally-from-u-s-source-1.4027129|title=Toronto shooter's gun was illegal, originally from U.S.: source|publisher=ctvnews.ca|date=25 July 2018}}{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/danforth-faisal-hussain-shooting-greektown-1.4760344| title = Gun in Danforth shooting traced to U.S., says police source {{!}} CBC News}} A police source later told CTV News it had been stolen in 2015 during a Saskatoon burglary.{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/gun-in-danforth-shooting-stolen-in-saskatoon-break-and-enter-source-1.4030454|title=Gun in Danforth shooting stolen in Saskatoon break-and-enter: source|first=Amanda|last=Coletta|date=July 27, 2018}} It may have come to Hussain from his brother who lived at a house in Toronto's eastern suburb of Pickering where 33 guns were seized in 2017.{{cite news |last1=Trevor Dunn |title=Danforth killer had no criminal record, but guns, gangs and drugs weren't far away |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/danforth-background-brother-records-1.4764742 |access-date=30 July 2018 |work=CBC |date=27 July 2018 |quote=Farad Hussain, 31, has ties to a street gang in the Thorncliffe Park area of Toronto, and may have once possessed the handgun his brother used in the Danforth shooting.}}

Residents and business owners in the area started a crowdfunding campaign for funeral expenses of victims who died.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-how-you-can-help-the-toronto-shooting-victims/|title=How you can help the Toronto shooting victims|last=Yousif|first=Nadine|date=July 23, 2018|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=July 24, 2018}} Meanwhile, the Canadian Blood Services said that they were closely monitoring response efforts and were encouraging donations in the aftermath of the shooting.

The Toronto International Film Festival cancelled an event to promote its planned film slate out of respect for those affected by the shooting.

It should also be noted that another shooting occurred exactly 5 years later, on July 22nd, 2023, where one male was killed. The later shooting took place 1 block away from the 2018 event. There is no evidence that the two events are connected.{{Cite web |last=Lavoie |first=Joanna |date=2023-07-23 |title=Man fatally shot near Danforth mass shooting memorial |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/man-fatally-shot-near-danforth-mass-shooting-memorial-1.6490746 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=CTV News |language=en}}

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale tweeted their condemnation of the shooting and praise of the police.{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/feds-looking-at-ways-to-tackle-wave-of-gun-violence-in-toronto-minister-1.4024003|title=Feds looking at ways to tackle wave of gun violence in Toronto: Minister|date=July 23, 2018|website=ctvnews.ca|access-date=July 25, 2018}} Ontario premier Doug Ford described the attack as "the most brazen shooting" of a year full of gun violence.{{cite news |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/confidence-is-shaken-how-will-toronto-respond-to-gun-violence-1.4024336 |title='Confidence is shaken': How will Toronto respond to gun violence? |last=Flanagan |first=Ryan |publisher=CTV News |date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=July 23, 2018}} Toronto Mayor John Tory called the shooting an "unspeakable act" and an attack on a city with a gun problem, and called on the federal government for a ban on handguns.{{Cite web |title=Mixed reactions from Danforth shooting victims on Trudeau's lack of a handgun ban |url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5292879| date = September 21, 2019 | work= CBC News| accessdate = November 3, 2024 | last = Casey |first = Liam}} He said he planned to discuss public safety and the legality of guns with provincial and federal officials.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece expressed solidarity and condolence with the city's Greektown.[http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/07/23/greece-in-solidarity-with-canada-over-toronto-shooting/ "Greece ‘in Solidarity’ with Canada Over Toronto Shooting", by Tasos Kokkinidis, The Greek Reporter] Calvary Church, located near the site of the shooting, held a prayer vigil, joined by a congregation from the nearby Madinah Mosque.{{cite news|title=Suspected Danforth shooter's family cites psychosis, 'severe mental health challenges,' after SIU identifies him as Faisal Hussain, 29, of Toronto|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/07/23/shooter-on-the-danforth-was-firing-like-someone-in-a-video-game-witness-says.html|newspaper=Toronto Star}}

The family of Faisal Hussain released a statement expressing "our deepest condolences to the families who are now suffering on account of our son's horrific actions".{{citation|title=Statement from family of Toronto gunman|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/statement-from-family-of-toronto-gunman|date=23 July 2018}}{{cite news|title=Faisal Hussain ID'd as gunman in deadly Danforth shooting spree|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/police-id-danforth-shooter-1.4757566}}

Several sports teams and athletes showed their support on social media with the #TorontoStrong hashtag, which was also used after the van attack in North York City Centre in April 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/more/sports-world-shows-support-toronto-wake-tragic-shooting/|title=Sports world shows support for Toronto in wake of tragic shooting|website=Sportsnet|access-date=July 24, 2018}}

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