(Courtesy: @mayoroliviachow/Instagram & @salsaintoronto/Instagram)
One of Toronto’s most popular summer festivals Salsa on St.Clair was cut short this weekend after a deadly shooting left two men dead, and Mayor Olivia Chow made a statement regarding the incident.
The incident left two dead and five others that were struck by gunfire and transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The two men who lost their lives were identified by police as Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20, and reportedly they knew one another.
The festival which was supposed to run for two days, was cancelled on Sunday following the events. Chow calls the incident “reckless” and “disgusting” and expressed her sympathy for those affected.
“It happened at a crowded festival with families enjoying a summer night. The pain caused by senseless gun violence is unimaginable,” said Chow.
Salsa on St.Clair has been a yearly festival for the last 22 years, filling Toronto streets with Latin dancing, good food and live performances that brings the community together.
There were reportedly around 13,000 people in attendance on Saturday night when the gunfire took place.
Toronto summers are filled with different types of festivals, and annual events that usually excite locals and visitors, is now raising public concern about safety.
“The spirit of Toronto is resilient,” Chow said, sharing her optimism for the future and adding that Toronto is a community that looks out for one another.
She also shares that Toronto will continue its street festivals despite people trying to ruin it with violence and speaks on the steps being taken as the investigation from Saturday’s shooting is still ongoing.
“I have spoken to the federal public safety minister and urged him to work with his American counterpart to stem the flow of illegal American guns into Toronto streets,” Chow said in the statement.
Toronto residents react to the street festival shooting
The Brandon Gonez Show spoke with Torontonians who expressed how they feel following the incident.
“I think it’s the life of every big city. Even small cities have a lot of things to cover. I think the policemen are doing a great job, think they need more, but that’s a budget thing,” said local resident Luceu B.
Others share their hesitancy to attend one of the many street festivals taking place in the city this summer.
“It makes you think twice about going now, just because obviously the police presence is there, but it just doesn’t seem to bother people,” said Toronto resident Alex G. “I think I’d think twice about going. Maybe see how this next one goes, and then possibly down in the summer later.”
The Brandon Gonez Show reached out to Salsa on St.Clair for a statement, but did not receive a response before publication.
Toronto Police issued a news release and reported that this is the city’s 19th and 20th homicide this year.
Chow also thanked Toronto police in her statement for acting quickly in the incident at the festival.
“I want to thank the brave police officers, paramedics and firefighters for their fast response this weekend. I will always be grateful for the service to our city,” she said.
