Gunman in Toronto mass shooting identified as Faisal Hussain, 29

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A 29-year-old gunman opened fire on pedestrians in a bustling Toronto neighborhood, killing a 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman and wounding 13 others in an attack, police in Canada's largest city said Monday.

A bomb disposal robot is seen deployed within the police cordon near the scene of a mass shooting in Toronto, July 23, 2018. /VCG Photo

Authorities later identified the suspect as Faisal Hussain, 29, of Toronto, who died in an exchange of gunfire with police. It was not immediately clear whether he killed himself or was killed by police.

A statement from the family of Hussain said their son had severe mental health challenges that he struggled with psychosis and depression. They said medications did not help him and the interventions of professionals were unsuccessful.

Emergency personnel work on a victim on the sidewalk at the corner of Logan and Danforth. Several people were taken to hospital following a mass shooting on the Danforth near Logan. /VCG Photo

A video clip posted by Canadian media appeared to show a dark-clad man walking on the sidewalk in Toronto's Greektown neighborhood Sunday night and then turning to aim and fire a handgun.

"At approximately 10 p.m. on July 22, 2018, a man walking along Danforth Avenue fired shots at groups of people several times. Several people were struck. Two civilians were fatally injured," the Ontario Special Investigations Unit said.

Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders speaks to reporters about a shooting the night before in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, July 23, 2018. /VCG Photo

Police Chief Mark Saunders earlier said he would not speculate on a motive but did not rule out terrorism.

“It’s almost inconceivable that these things can happen,” said Mayor John Tory. “We were so used to living in a city where these things didn’t happen and as we saw them going on in the world around us (we) thought they couldn’t happen here.”

“This is an attack against innocent families and our entire city.”

People leave an area taped off by the police near th‍e scene in Toronto, July 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

The slain 18-year-old was identified as Reese Fallon, a recent high school graduate who volunteered for Canada’s Liberal party and was due to attend McMaster University in the fall. Her family said in a statement they were devastated.

Flags at Toronto City Hall as well as at Fallon’s former high school, Malvern CI, were lowered to half-staff.

A police officer checks a vehicle during investigating a mass shooting on Danforth Avenue in Toronto, Canada, July 23, 2018. /VCG Photo

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter on Monday: “The people of Toronto are strong, resilient and brave – and we’ll be there to support you through this difficult time.”

The 13 wounded ranged in age from 10 to 59, and suffered injuries ranging from serious to minor, Saunders said. He did not name the victims, who included eight women and girls, and seven men.

Witnesses said they heard 25 gunshots, the news website reported.

Toronto police officers work on Danforth St., at the scene of a shooting in Toronto, Ontario, ‍July 23, 2018. /VCG Photo

To own a gun in Canada an individual must apply for a license, get a background check and pass a firearm safety test. Guns must be kept locked and unloaded and can only be legally carried outside the home with a special permit. Handguns and other restricted firearms require passing an additional course.

Police officers guard Danforth Avenue after a mass shooting in Toronto, Canada, July 23, 2018. /VCG Photo

Canada’s crime rate rose by 1 percent in 2017, the third consecutive annual increase, according to Statistics Canada. The murder rate jumped by 7 percent, due largely to killings in British Columbia and Quebec, while crime involving guns grew by 7 percent.

Toronto is grappling with a sharp rise in gun violence in 2018. Deaths from gun violence in the city jumped 53 percent to 26 so far in 2018 from the same period last year, police data last week showed, with the number of shootings rising 13 percent.

Emergency Task Force members make their way to the scene in Toronto, Canada, July 23, 2018. /VCG Photo

Toronto deployed about 200 police officers from July 20 in response to the recent spate in shootings, which city officials have blamed on gang violence.

Saunders said the police presence would be increased in the Danforth area following the shooting.

Source(s): AP ,Reuters