Two people shot following possible ‘road rage’ incident in downtown Toronto, suspects still at large

Authorities have stated that the shooting may have stemmed from an earlier road rage incident, though the exact details have not been uncovered.

According to the Toronto Police Service, the shooting occurred around 6 am Monday morning near 7 Charles Street. The victims, a man and woman in their twenties whose identities have not been made public, were standing outside when a black SUV drove by and fired several shots before speeding away up Bay Street.

Inspector Michell Olszveski explained during a press conference that just minutes prior to the shooting, police had responded to reports of "stunt driving" nearby on Yonge Street, and that there was a connection between the two events.

"The vehicles and occupants of the vehicles involved in this stunt driving call were also in front of 7 Charles Street at the time of this shooting incident," she said, "and there is a possibility that this incident has occurred as a result of a road rage."

She added that "several" of the vehicles spotted taking part in the stunt driving were parked along Charles Street when the shooting took place.

Officers from the TPS' 52 Division as well as the Gun and Gang Task Force have been canvassing the area for witnesses and video footage, and conducting a forensic examination of the crime scene, though no further information regarding the suspect(s) has been released.

Monday's shooting marks the third reported major act of violence committed in Toronto in the past week. On Thursday, a man was chased down a crowded subway and stabbed multiple times. He survived, and his attacker was eventually charged with attempted murder. Just 24 hours later, a woman was struck and killed by a stray bullet in the city's Leslieville neighbourhood after a group of men began fighting and shot at each other.