‘Horrendous scene’: 6 dead, including gunman, after shooting inside Vaughan condo

Six people are dead, including the 73-year-old suspected gunman, after a shooting inside a condominium in Vaughan Sunday evening.

York Regional Police officers said they received calls about an active shooter inside the building, located on Jane Street just north of Rutherford Road, before 7:30 p.m.

Investigators found a woman who, investigators said, was shot in the face. Officers later discovered other victims.

York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween confirmed that six people were killed in the shooting, including the suspect, who was fatally shot in an interaction with officers.

“Horrendous scene,” MacSween said on Sunday.

“There is no further threat to the community at this point. We offer our sincere condolences to the victims and their families.”

MacSween said a seventh victim was rushed to a hospital for treatment and they are expected to survive.

He said Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), was called after the shooting.

“One of our officers did discharge their firearm,” MacSween confirmed.

The SIU is an independent provincial government agency investigating the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and the discharge of a firearm at a person.

A brief update from the agency confirmed what York Regional Police officers released. The statement released the man’s age, but not his identity. A post-mortem examination of the suspect was scheduled for Tuesday. SIU investigators were canvassing for witnesses as part of their probe.

Officers conducted a large-scale evacuation of the building as part of their response to the shooting. Just after 1:15 a.m. on Monday, a spokesperson for the service tweeted residents were being allowed back inside.

Two vehicles with police seals were removed from the Vaughan property early Monday by tow trucks, but it’s unclear why.

The motive is unclear and no officers were injured. The York Regional Police homicide unit was called in to lead the investigation into the shootings of the six victims.

CityNews spoke with a resident who was leaving to go to work Monday morning. He said he was taken aback by what happened, describing the residential Vaughan neighbourhood as “quiet” and having “more privacy.”

“We wouldn’t imagine seeing that in our buildings, right, but nowadays you see everything,” he said.

Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca issued a brief message on Twitter early Monday in response to the shootings.

“On behalf of the City of Vaughan and council, I offer my condolences to the families of the victims killed in the shootings that occurred in the area of Jane Street and Rutherford Road. I want to recognize the brave first responders who are working to safeguard the situation,” he wrote.