In a “horrific” incident that took place as part of Canada’s campaign to toughen its gun control legislation, five people were killed in a shooting on Sunday night at a condo complex in a suburban Toronto neighbourhood, according to police. Around 7:20 p.m., after responding to an active call to shoot, According to York Region Investigators Chief Jim MacSween during a conference call, police found a “terrible scene where several individuals died” at the building in Vaughan, north of Toronto. hurry. A 73-year-old shooter was fatally shot by an officer during a standoff, according to the chief.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announces legislation to restrict the sale, transfer, and import of all handguns in the country. Officer Laura Nicolle told CNN the incident was “the most terrifying phone call I’ve seen in my entire career.”
Authorities named the suspect as 73-year-old resident of the building Francesco Villi. At a press conference on Monday afternoon, York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween said that Villi passed away on the third level after meeting with authorities. The five fatalities lived in the building, according to MacSween, and were found in three different units. “The shooting’s motivation is still part of this very intricate and very fluid inquiry, which is now underway,” MacSween said. “Three of the victims were members of the housing committee.”
At this point, police are withholding the victims’ names but have confirmed that three males and two women perished.
Additionally, according to MacSween, a sixth victim – a 66-year-old woman – was seriously injured and remains hospitalized. His identity is not published at this time. Residents were evacuated while rescuers worked to clear the building and ensure there were no other casualties. Residents waited while police cleared the building floor by floor, eventually returning home after midnight.
Police did not give a motive for the killings or any details about how they happened. The neighbourhood is no longer under danger, according to the police. The families of the victims have our sincere condolences, MacSween said. The York Regional Police homicide section will continue to investigate the shooting, according to MacSween.
In a news statement, Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, which is contacted when police shoot at a person, announced that it was looking into the incident.
Sunday’s deaths follow recent government initiatives to strengthen gun control rules in Canada, which has stronger gun controls and far less gun violence than the US. Gun ownership is permitted for citizens with a permission; some must be registered.
This year, the administration tightened the regulations even further. Regulations banning the sale, purchase, or transfer of firearms inside Canada went into force in October. In May, the revisions were declared by Justin Trudeau, the prime minister. At a news conference in Surrey, British Columbia, joined by relatives of victims of gun violence and other supporters, Trudeau declared, “We have halted the small weapons market in this nation.”
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