Real estate CEO dad, daughters shot, mother beaten with hammer in brutal home invasion in wealthy Toronto neighborhood

Police said that three masked suspects, armed with handguns and a hammer, broke into the Hyde Park Circle home at around 3:45 am. Insp. Kristy Smith, of the Toronto Police Service’s Hold Up squad, told reporters that the suspects had entered the home through a rear door, per CTV News.

Police said that once inside, the suspects confronted a husband and wife and their two adult daughters. The father and two daughters were shot during a struggle, and one person was struck by a hammer.

All four victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment, and the suspects fled before first responders arrived on scene. While police initially said that two of the victims had sustained life-threatening injuries, Smith said that their injuries are now believed to be life-altering. She said that two of the victims remain in the hospital.

Per the Toronto Sun, the father was identified as MAC Group CEO David Morton. The MAC Group is a real estate company. A source told the outlet that the family “tried to fight off” the suspects and “that’s when they were shot.” One daughter was shot in the leg, the other under her arm, and 75-year-old Morton was shot in the leg. The mother, Diana Zohil-Morton, was struck in the head with a blunt object believed to be the hammer. Zohil-Morton is president of The MAC Group.

“This is a very active and ongoing investigation. While we don’t have any detailed suspect information at this time, I can assure you that we are doing our best to provide information to you with regards to the potential three suspects that we are aware of at this time,” Smith said.

“We recognize how frightening and disturbing an incident like this is, not only for the victims but also for the residents and the entire community including the loved ones of the extended family. People should feel safe in their homes.”

She said that the suspects demanded valuables, but it is unclear whether any belongings were taken from the home. Descriptions of the suspects have not been released by authorities, but police said that they had fled the area in an SUV.

Smith said that police do not have any information suggesting that the home was specifically targeted. She said that the neighborhood is an “affluent area where people would have things that are sought after.”

Smith said that police were looking into whether a gunshot victim who had walked into a local hospital not long after the home invasion had been connected to the shooting. “We are aware of that incident and I can’t say whether it is connected or not but it is definitely something we are going to investigate so we can draw that connection if there is one.”