Toronto police have charged eight people in connection to a shooting on Queen Street West near Dufferin Street on Monday night.
During a press conference on Thursday, Detective Sergeant Brandon Price said police have seized 16 firearms as part of their investigation, all of which originated from the United States.
The shooting is believed to be gang related.
One of the arrested persons is a 16-year-old who on Tuesday was charged with second degree murder in connection to an April shooting in the Long Branch Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West area.
Just after 11:20 p.m. on Monday night, Toronto Police Operations reported multiple gunshots were heard by the Queen Street West and Sudbury Street intersection near a recording studio at 1196 Queen St. W.
Police said three suspects arrived at the scene in a stolen car and were each armed with a handgun. The three suspects allegedly fired their weapons in the direction of the recording studio.
Several individuals at the recording studio, who police said belong to a "rival group," returned gunfire at the initial three suspects, who took cover behind an unmarked police vehicle.
One person was injured and transported to hospital, though paramedics said the person was not shot.
The unmarked police vehicle was struck by the gunfire. No officers were injured.
Police Chief Myron Demkiw earlier this week said "plainclothes officers" were in the Queen Street West area ahead of the incident to carry out a bail compliance check. These officers "found themselves in the middle of the gun fight," he detailed.
Authorities said the suspects involved in the shooting fled on foot after their stolen vehicle was struck by another unmarked police car and was disabled.
Those who were at the recording studio also fled the scene and discarded their firearms in garbage bins and other areas, police said. One individual was apprehended by officers and was allegedly found to be in possession of a handgun.
Inside the recording studio, officers arrested several more individuals and located "numerous firearms," police said.
"Many of the firearms seized were modified in order to be capable of fully automatic fire," police noted in a press release.
One of the initial three suspects has been apprehended, while police continue to search for the remaining two.
A total of 23 people have been arrested, though only eight had been formally charged as of Thursday afternoon.
Police did not mention the alleged gangs involved in the Queen Street West shooting by name. Price said he did not want to give either group publicity.
The arrested 16-year-old, who is from Brampton, has been charged with second degree murder in the death of 30-year-old Matthew Bergart of Toronto. Police allege the 16-year-old and two others forcibly entered a residential unit in the Long Branch Avenue area and made demands for personal valuables. Bergart was shot and later died in hospital.
In connection to Monday's Queen Street West shooting, the teen now also faces eight counts of unauthorized firearm charges.
Osman Aim, 21, of Toronto was arrested and faces 16 firearm related charges, including the discharge of a firearm with the intent to wound or endanger life and firearm serial number tampering, as well as possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Dante McGregor, 26, and Lester Lamptey, 30, both from Toronto, each face nine firearm related charges, including two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Oshawa resident Nathaniel Browne, 24, Samuel Bowen, 24, and Samina Adams, 24, both from Toronto, also face nine firearm related charges each.
Toronto resident Ras Montague, 20, was charged with two counts of failing to comply with recognizance.
"These weapons serve as a stark reminder of the real and present danger that illegal firearms pose to our community, to innocent citizens, and to our officers who bravely respond to these incidents," said Toronto Police Service Staff Superintendent Joe Matthews.
"If you know of anyone who is in possession of illegal firearms, please come forward. Share what you know with us, call Crime Stoppers, so we can take these weapons off our streets before another incident like this occurs,” he said. “Together, we can make our city safer."
During the press conference, Price called the shooting "extremely concerning" and stressed the need to combat rising gun violence in Toronto.
He said the shooting was akin to “something we see in TV and movies, but that has not actually played out on our streets."
The investigation is ongoing. Police anticipate further charges.
