Toronto police have shared an image of a suspect vehicle after as many as two male suspects opened fire at the U.S. Consulate early Tuesday morning.
Officers were called to the area of University Avenue and Queen Street West around 5:29 a.m. after reports that a firearm had been discharged at the consulate building. When police arrived, they located evidence confirming that shots had been fired.
Police told 680 NewsRadio that a door at the U.S. Consulate was damaged, with roughly 10 shell casings located outside of the building. No injuries were reported.
At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Toronto police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo and Ontario Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Chief Superintendent Chris Leather confirmed that investigators have linked a suspect vehicle to the shooting, releasing an image that they hope leads to pertinent information.
“There are two males who emerged and discharged their firearms [from the vehicle],” said Barredo, who added that it’s believed the shooting occurred at around 4:30 a.m. “There were multiple shots fired; more than one.”
Barredo said it’s unknown whether Tuesday’s shooting at the U.S. Consulate is connected to the recent targeted shootings at GTA synagogues, but that investigators would look into the possibility.
“We do not look at them in isolation. We look at them collectively,” he said. “It is not lost on us that the city has, unfortunately, experienced similar types of events, extremely serious and very concerning shootings at synagogues and this very much factors into how we will approach this matter as well.”
Leather called the incident “deeply concerning,” and wouldn’t comment on any possible political links to the early-morning shooting.
“This is a national security incident,” Leather said. “There is no indication of an immediate threat to public safety at this time.”
Leather confirmed that the U.S. and Israeli Consulates will have heightened security in Toronto and Ottawa moving forward.
“These consulates deserve a heightened amount of vigilance and security at this time, in the hopes that we can bring the temperature down in the coming days and weeks.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford commented in the shooting’s aftermath and acknowledged that he spoke to OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.
“We’re going to throw everything at this,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park on Tuesday morning. “I have all the confidence in the world that they’re going to catch these criminals, and we’re going to hold them accountable, and they’re going to face the full extent of the law.”
Southbound University Avenue is closed from Armoury Street due to the investigation.
Anyone with dashcam or surveillance footage from the surrounding blocks is asked to contact Toronto police.