Toronto shooting leaves 2 dead, 12 wounded

A man with a handgun opened fire into restaurants and cafes at a busy street here Sunday night, leaving two people dead and 12 others injured.

According to Toronto police, two people were killed by the man who "fired shots at groups of people several times while walking along Danforth Avenue in Greektown of Toronto city." The Canadian city has many restaurants, cafes and shops that are bustling with pedestrians at night.

Mass shootings are rare in the largest city of Canada, however, worries about violence and potential terror attacks arose after a driver of a van plowed into pedestrians on a Toronto sidewalk in April, killing 10 people and injuring 14 others.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders told a press conference Monday that police received a call shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday (0200 GMT Monday) about a shooting near Danforth and Logan Avenues in the city's east-end Greektown neighborhood.

Police caught up with the attacker on nearby Bowden Street. Shots were exchanged and the man ran back to Danforth, where he was found dead on a sidewalk.

Police are investigating whether the suspect was killed by police or died by suicide.

Saunders said it was too early to say what motivated the shooting. "I'm looking at absolutely every single possible motive."

He encouraged any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police to come forward with any information, photos or videos they might have.

Toronto Mayor John Tory Monday called the shooting a "despicable act."

"On behalf of all Toronto residents, I am outraged that someone has unleashed such a terrible attack on our city and people innocently enjoying a Sunday evening," Tory said in a statement.