Emergency Task Force vehicles and police officers are seen on the site of a shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival in Toronto on July 11, 2026. Jorge Uzon/AFP via Getty Images
Two people were killed and several others were injured after a shooting incident at the Salsa on St. Clair festival in Toronto on July 11, police said.
Toronto Police Service said the shooting happened shortly after 8 p.m. in the area of St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue.
The search for suspects is ongoing, and no arrests have yet been made.
Deputy Chief Frank Barredo told reporters that there was an “exchange of gunfire between individuals,” and that two firearms were recovered in the area. He said there may be several suspects that the police is looking for.
“This was a very chaotic scene. I think we had something in the neighbourhood of 13,000 people participating in this festival, so it’s crowded,” Barredo said.
He said police initially put out an active-shooter alert as the situation was very “chaotic,” but removed the alert after confirming that was not the case.
Paramedics respond to an active shooter at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto, on July 11, 2026. The Canadian Press/Keito Newman
Barredo said police have established three crime scenes, and asked members of the public if they have witnessed the incident or taken any images to contact the police.
“It’s complex because of the sheer number of people involved, just the chaotic amount of information. There’d be lots of video to pore through, lots of witness statements and evidence to pore through,” he said. “There’s obviously several suspects.”
Two males were pronounced dead at the scene, while four people were reported as injured as of publication time.
Salsa on St. Clair is a major annual street festival in Toronto that showcases Latin culture through performances, food, and entertainment, attracting large crowds to Midtown each year.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she is “disgusted and angered” by the shooting.
“This was a reckless, despicable act of violence at a crowded festival. I will ensure Toronto Police have every resource they need to find those responsible, and they will keep working around the clock to get guns off our streets,”Chow said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is “horrified” by the incident.
“My prayers are with the families grieving their loved ones, those who are in critical condition, and everyone who has been affected by this horrific event,” he said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he is “devastated by the senseless violence,” adding that his thoughts are with the victims and their families.
“The person responsible must be caught, brought to justice and spend the rest of their life behind bars,” Ford said.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also said he was “shocked” to hear about the shooting.
“May the police find the monster responsible for this innocent loss of life and bring them to justice,” he said.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
