A 73-year old gunman shot and killed six people at a condo building in Toronto.
After receiving an alert about an active shooter around 7:20 pm, police rushed to Vaughan in Ontario, 50km (31 miles north) of Toronto. ET Sunday, 0020 GMT Monday), reported Jim MacSween from York Regional Police.
MacSween stated that police located the suspect (identified as Francesco Villi), and then fatally shot him in the hallway of the 16th-story building. MacSween stated that the officer who shot and killed the suspect had “very likely saved lives” by his actions.
The victims all lived in that building. Three adult males and two females died, and there was a woman aged 66 who suffered serious injuries in the hospital.
He said that three victims of the condo board shooting were the victims, but it is unclear what the motive was.
According to a spokesperson from Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, (SIU), authorities found dead bodies on several floors and a semi-automatic pistol that was believed to have been used in the shooting.
According to the SIU (which investigates police deaths), Tuesday’s post-mortem examination of the suspect was set for Tuesday.
Canada’s gun laws are stricter than those in the United States. However, Canadians can own guns provided they hold a valid license. Registering firearms that are restricted or banned, such as handguns is also required.
“Everybody is shocked… to awaken to the news today, and to have heard it last night. Steven Del Duca, Vaughan’s Mayor, said Monday that people are in shock.
Vaughan is home to 320,000 people.
The Canadian gun homicide rate has fallen to a fraction that of the United States, according to 2020 data. However, it is higher than many other rich countries and is on the rise. Between 2009 and 2020, handguns were used for the vast majority of violent firearm crimes.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government have been working to reduce gun violence with measures such as a ban on handgun sales, purchases or transfers that went into effect in October.
Trudeau posted on Twitter, “To the relatives and friends of yesterday’s victims in Vaughan shooting: I’m keeping them in my thoughts.”
