Toronto police say 19 people have been arrested after a violent night at Woodbine Beach that involved a shooting, stabbing, two gunpoint robberies and fireworks shot at officers.
Many arrested were under 18 years-old, according to police.
Police said they received a report of a shooting at 9:44 p.m. Sunday at Woodbine Beach Park and located a man with a gunshot wound. Toronto paramedics told Global News that he was taken to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries. A second man later walked into a hospital with a gunshot wound. Police said he was injured in that shooting.
After 11 p.m., police tweeted that they received reports that someone had been stabbed at Woodbine Beach Park. Officers located a man who was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
In an update Monday afternoon, Insp. Jeff Bassingthwaite said Toronto police “had a visible presence, including various police resources” at Woodbine Beach and Ashbridges Bay.
He said officers responded to the shooting and stabbing, along with two gunpoint robberies.
“Officers also responded to multiple calls of crowds of people illegally setting off fireworks,” he said. “We allege that some individuals were intentionally directing fireworks at people, including at police officers. This reckless behaviour resulted in injuries to our officers and our officers immediately responded to protect the public.
“Despite a hostile crowd and having fireworks aimed at them, officers were able to successfully make arrests and the crowd was eventually dispersed.”
In a press release, Toronto police said a 14-year-old, two 15-year-olds, three 16-year-olds, three 18-year-olds, two 19-year-olds, a 21-year-old, a 24-year-old and a 26-year-old were all charged with common nuisance, while a 15-year-old was charged with assaulting a peace officer.
Another 20-year-old faced a charge for assaulting a peace officer
A 17-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl have been charged with robbery, as has another 17-year-old girl.
Bassingthwaite said seven police officers were injured.
“Some of the officers’ injuries are serious in nature and include one officer breaking a leg while responding to a shooting, two officers receiving burns and ear injuries when fireworks were thrown and exploded near them,” he said.
“Another officer was struck directly in the face by a firework and sustained serious abrasions to his face, ears and eyes. This is unacceptable behaviour and we will continue to investigate all of these incidents.”
All of the injured officers have since been released from hospital.
Bassingthwaite said there will be a “large and visible dedicated policing operation” in place in the area Monday night with the City’s fireworks show at Ashbridges Bay.
“City bylaws prohibit possession of fireworks on beaches and parks and any individual found in possession of them is subject to charges and search and seizure by the appropriate law enforcement, including City bylaw officers and Toronto police,” he said.
“Anyone who engages in activity that risks public safety can expect to be arrested.”
— With files from Global News’ Isaac Callan
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