Thousands fled or took cover as shots rang out during the annual Salsa on St. Clair street festival.
TORONTO — Music, dancing and family celebrations gave way to panic Saturday night when gunfire erupted near Toronto’s Salsa on St. Clair festival, killing two men, wounding four other people and sending thousands of visitors searching for safety.
The shooting struck one of Toronto’s largest celebrations of Latin American culture as crowds filled St. Clair Avenue West with food stalls, live performances and dancing. Police estimated that about 13,000 people were participating in the festival when shots were reported near Arlington Avenue at about 8:12 p.m.
Witnesses said the mood changed within moments as people began screaming, running and warning others to get down. Festival workers stopped serving customers, families sought shelter, and police officers moved through the crowd while emergency crews treated those who had been shot.
Officers found six people with gunshot wounds. Police later said two men had died and four other victims had been wounded. The names of those killed were not immediately released, and officials did not provide detailed information about the surviving victims’ conditions.
Police initially described the incident as a possible active-shooter situation and urged the public to stay away. Deputy Police Chief Frank Barredo later said investigators believed the gunfire was exchanged between two people who were targeting one another rather than an attacker firing broadly at the festival crowd.
“There was some concern about an active shooter. That turned out not to be the case,” Barredo said. He added that the people involved had still placed many bystanders at risk by firing weapons in a densely packed public space.
Investigators recovered two firearms and established three crime scenes connected to the shooting. No arrests had been announced by early Sunday, and police had not said how many suspects they were seeking. The motive and circumstances leading to the confrontation remained unknown.
A large emergency response closed parts of the festival area while officers searched the neighborhood, collected evidence and interviewed witnesses. The Toronto Transit Commission temporarily stopped trains from serving nearby St. Clair West station because of the security response. Normal service later resumed.
The violence drew condemnation from leaders across Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was horrified and offered condolences to the families grieving those who were killed. He thanked first responders and said police had his support as they worked to apprehend those responsible.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she was angry that a reckless act of violence had occurred at an event attended by families. Ontario Premier Doug Ford described the shooting as senseless and said his thoughts were with the victims, their relatives and the broader community.
Salsa on St. Clair began as a neighborhood street celebration and has grown into one of Toronto’s biggest Latin cultural festivals. Its programming typically includes dance lessons, concerts, children’s activities and food representing communities from across Latin America. The 2026 festival marked its 22nd annual event.
The shooting left organizers, vendors and residents confronting violence in a setting meant to celebrate community. Authorities had not announced whether remaining festival programming would proceed, and officials did not immediately provide details about additional security measures.
Police continued reviewing video and gathering witness accounts Sunday. Investigators asked people who recorded the shooting or its immediate aftermath to preserve the material as they worked to identify those involved and determine the full sequence of events.
Author note: Last updated July 12, 2026.