Two people are in hospital after a drive-by shooting downtown that investigators believe may be linked to a case of stunt driving-related road rage, Toronto police say.
The shooting happened on Charles Street West, just south of the corner of Yonge and Bloor streets, around 6 a.m. Monday.
A man and a woman were hurt and are currently in hospital with serious injuries. Both are expected to survive, according to Toronto police Duty Insp. Michelle Olszevski.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Olszevski said that police had responded to a call about stunt driving in the area shortly before 6 a.m. and that a vehicle involved in that call was also involved in the shooting.
“There is a possibility that this incident occurred because of road rage,” she said.
The suspect vehicle, a black SUV, was seen on Yonge Street before the shooting. It then turned westbound onto Charles Street, where a crowd of people had gathered on the sidewalk next to several vehicles. The victims were among that group, Olszevski said.
After the shooting, the suspect vehicle continued westbound before heading north on Bay Street. It is not known how many people were inside the SUV, Olszevski said.
Anyone who may have witnessed the stunt driving or shooting, or anyone with information or dashcam video that could help investigators, is being asked to contact police.