A 73-year-old man who fatally shot 5 individuals at an upscale apartment tower north of Toronto in Vaughan, Ont., used a semi-automatic handgun and victims have been discovered on a number of totally different flooring of the constructing, the province’s police watchdog mentioned Monday.
At a information convention Monday afternoon at York Regional Police headquarters in Aurora, Ont., Chief Jim MacSween recognized the shooter as Francesco Villi.
Villi was shot and killed on the third ground, MacSween mentioned.
He mentioned the officer who shot Villi is a 24-year-veteran of York Regional Police and “he very seemingly saved lives by his actions final night time.”
In the meantime, MacSween mentioned police couldn’t but establish the victims of the taking pictures. He mentioned three males and two girls — all residents within the apartment constructing — have been killed, and that three of these individuals have been members of the apartment board. A 66-year-old woman was additionally shot and remained in hospital Monday.
Board members John Di Nino, who can also be the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Canada, and Tony Cutrone weren’t injured. Di Nino’s spouse, Doreen, was injured within the taking pictures however is predicted to reside.
Di Nino was inside his residence when his spouse was shot, in keeping with his spokesperson. He issued an announcement saying it is a “very troublesome time for my household” and mentioned he will not remark additional.
Cutrone, who doesn’t reside within the constructing, mentioned the taking pictures is “unreal” and arduous to fathom.
“On the one hand, I am actually fortunate to be alive. Then again, I used to be simply speaking with these individuals 24 hours in the past, and no longer. It is arduous to listen to the phrases that they have been killed,” he mentioned.
“I am nonetheless in shock. I can not consider that is the best way he determined to exit and I hate that he took individuals with him.”
WATCH: York police chief provides replace on mass taking pictures at apartment constructing:
Three males, two girls killed in Vaughan, Ont. mass taking pictures: YRP
York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween advised reporters Thursday that every one 5 victims of the taking pictures lived within the apartment constructing. Three of them have been on the condominium board. MacSween mentioned the motive for the taking pictures stays underneath investigation. The 73-year-old suspect was killed throughout an interplay with police.
Officers discovered a ‘horrific scene’
Officers have been initially referred to as to the constructing at 7:20 p.m. ET Sunday in response to a taking pictures in progress.
The chief mentioned officers arrived on the scene inside three minutes and 21 seconds of the preliminary name.
They arrived to discover a “horrific scene” with 5 victims shot in three separate models, MacSween mentioned, including that detectives are working diligently to seek out solutions “on this horrible incident.”
“We’re actually shocked and sorry that such an incident passed off in our area,” he mentioned. “We’ll do something we will to help the family members and anybody else impacted by this heartbreaking incident.”
“The motive for the taking pictures stays a part of this very difficult and really fluid investigation, which remains to be ongoing at
this time,” he mentioned.
A spokesperson for the Particular Investigations Unit, which appears to be like into any incident throughout which somebody is killed or badly injured when police are current, mentioned the alleged shooter lived within the constructing.
SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette advised reporters the person was killed throughout an interplay with police in a hallway and {that a} gun was recovered. Denette couldn’t say whether or not the firearm was obtained legally.
Based on Denette, the alleged gunman was pronounced lifeless on the scene round 8 p.m. ET. A autopsy examination is scheduled for Tuesday.
MacSween mentioned Sunday that it’ll take a while to find out the motive for the taking pictures and it wasn’t instantly clear if there was any relation between the suspect and the victims.
It is nonetheless unclear what drove the violence, however MacSween described it as a “horrendous scene.”
Nonetheless processing what occurred, resident says
Constructing resident John Santoro mentioned he opened the door of his unit Sunday night time to see a pair of officers armed with rifles by the elevators.
“I did hear a commotion within the hall,” he mentioned, including that police have been going ground to ground as they responded to the taking pictures. Santoro mentioned the constructing was quickly surrounded by police and emergency automobiles.
“The ambulances began rolling in … I noticed physique luggage coming out, being loaded into ambulances,” he mentioned. “We knew it was one thing very huge.”
One other constructing resident mentioned he was nonetheless processing what occurred.
“It is simply surprising to be trustworthy,” mentioned Jordan Bennett, who went out to get meals Sunday night time and returned to discover a heavy police presence on the constructing. “I really feel fairly secure right here so I am fairly shocked to listen to one thing like this occurred.”
WATCH | Police chief says it can take time to find out a motive: 
Six lifeless after Vaughan, Ont., taking pictures, says police chief
York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween says it can ‘take us a while’ to find out the motive for the shootings.
‘My coronary heart goes out to the victims,’ mayor says
As day broke over the apartment on Jane Avenue north of Rutherford Highway, about 15 police vehicles and a big forensic identification truck remained outdoors the highrise. The principle entrance to the constructing was taped off.
Residents who have been evacuated from the apartment have been in a position to return to the constructing early Monday morning.
Talking outdoors the constructing Monday, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca supplied condolences to the victims and their households and mentioned flags at metropolis corridor would fly at half-mast of their reminiscence. He mentioned your entire group is reeling from the taking pictures.
“My coronary heart goes out to the victims, their households, to the those who knew them. It is simply unspeakable to think about that has taken place right here in our group,” he mentioned.
Officers have been referred to as to the constructing at 7:20 p.m. ET on Sunday in response to a taking pictures in progress. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)
Del Duca recommended York police and different first responders for his or her efforts.
“And I need to thank all of our courageous first responders for the work that they did yesterday to safe what I do know will need to have been a really troublesome state of affairs.”
A ‘horrible assault,’ prime minister says
Talking with CBC’s chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned his “ideas exit to all of the households, all of the residents, people who find themselves terribly shook up, individuals who’ve misplaced family members on this horrible assault.”
In an announcement posted to Twitter, Ontario Premier Doug Ford mentioned he was “shocked and saddened” by the taking pictures.
“All of Ontario is considering of the victims of this mindless violence and the household and buddies grieving their loss,” he mentioned.
On Monday, Toronto Mayor John Tory referred to as the taking pictures “horrific.”
“On behalf of all Toronto residents, I prolong condolences to our neighbours within the Metropolis of Vaughan within the wake of final night time’s horrific shootings. We pray that the family members of those that have misplaced their lives are supported by this tragedy,” he mentioned on Twitter.
“We additionally ship a message of gratitude and help to the primary responders who arrived on the scene final night time and who’re persevering with to research at this time.”
