A street in Toronto that should have been alive with vendors and dancers was nearly empty on Sunday following a shooting the previous night at the Salsa on St. Clair festival, which resulted in two fatalities and sent thousands fleeing for safety.
The event on St. Clair Avenue West was meant to continue through Sunday, but organizers decided to cancel it as police investigated the unexpected gunfire that also left four individuals hospitalized with serious injuries.
Instead, only a few businesses remained open along the street while police blocked off all vehicle access. Colorful festival banners hung above vacant vendor stalls, and only a handful of people were seen walking around.
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Redon Hoxhaj was heading to Pain Perdu, a café on St. Clair Avenue West he visits every Sunday. It was closed.
“I feel sad, most of all, a bit afraid,” Hoxhaj said in an interview.
He expressed concern for the victims, survivors, witnesses of the shooting, and the future of local businesses.
“Yeah, they are going to suffer. Who knows when they’ll open,” he said, adding: “People that were here yesterday, they ran in fear. I don’t know how long it’s going to take for them to recover.”
Toronto police reported that around 13,000 people were present at the festival when shots were fired shortly after 8 p. m. near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue. One man died at the scene while another passed away later in hospital; four more sustained serious gunshot wounds.
Police established three separate crime scenes and discovered two firearms at the site. As of Sunday morning, there had been no arrests made.
Salsa on St. Clair is a longstanding festival celebrating Latin music, food and culture. Photos and videos shared online showed attendees dancing joyfully in the packed streets earlier on Saturday before violence broke out.
Tomer Markovitz owns Romi’s Restaurant and Bakery located on St. Clair Avenue West; he mentioned that he and other business owners chose to close early Saturday because they sensed trouble coming and had been urging city officials as well as festival organizers for better security measures.
They even requested that organizers wrap up festivities earlier this year before evening drinking could lead to unrest.
“We need … more of everything here in order to contain this because this is one of the biggest street festivals in Canada,” he stated during an interview. “So even if you put a metal detector in order to come into a festival it’s not the end of the world … It’s just to make sure everyone inside is safe.”
He expressed hope that next year’s festival would be relocated “somewhere else that they can contain it.”
Paramedics respond to a shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto on Saturday, July 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keito Newman
Tara Kennedy lives nearby and agreed that security measures must improve for future festivals; however she also noted that her neighborhood is generally safe.
“People around here love markets like this and enjoy events like these-so do I,” she commented during an interview. “It’s extremely scary.”
Officials announced that Toronto’s iconic CN Tower would dim its lights at each hour starting Sunday night as a tribute to those affected by this tragedy.
The shooting took place during what seemed like another violent night across the city; Toronto police responded early Sunday morning to another shooting incident injuring three individuals leading to five arrests according to posts made by them on X social media platform.
Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw referred both incidents via social media post saying last night’s events were “tragic and violent.”
‘The brazen violence we witnessed in the middle of a community festival … is heartbreaking and unacceptable,’ Demkiw wrote on X, vowing police would be ‘relentless’ pursuing those responsible.’
‘On Friday night,’ another shooting occurred near Jane Street & Sheppard Avenue East leaving one man dead aged 22 alongside two others injured as stated by authorities release’
Police respond to a shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto, on Saturday July11 ,2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keito Newman![]()
Police respond to shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto, on Saturday July11 ,2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keito Newman
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Meanwhile , people organizations from across Canada took social media express their sympathies support.
In British Columbia , Filipino BC grief with Latin community saying know devastation experiencing violence cultural celebrations.
On April26 ,2025 ,11people killed car-ramming attack Filipino Lapu Lapu Day celebrations Vancouver.
In Instagram post, FIlipino BC non-profit violence cultural festivals “shakes entire community forever changing place meant filled joy connection pride.”
To our friends Latin community please know are not alone,”post said.” We holding hearts, mourning with you standing beside begin difficult journey ahead.”
The Hillcrest Village Business Improvement Area representing more than90 businesses about areasocial media say salsa st. clair has long been celebration culture comm UNITYconnection.”
It devastating event dedicated bringing together overshadowed act violence organization say Instagram post.”
Soul2Sole latin dance company offers salsa latin dance lessons area part salsa clair community over twenty years.”
Stand together support compassion hope healing all impacted company said Instagram. The toronto tempo WNBA team also posted condolences social media thanking first responders pledging solidarity with hope healing strength peace difficult time.” Anita Anand Canada’s foreign affairs minister said once lived area shooting describing place community family.” My thoughts are victims families community she said X.” – With files from Sarah Smellie Saint John’s N. L. This report Canadian press first July12 2026. What think article ?Source link
