What we now know about Saturday’s deadly festival shooting

The police investigation into a deadly shooting at Toronto’s Salsa on St. Clair festival on Saturday remains ongoing as officials identified the two men who died.

Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20, were killed after gunshots broke out around 8 p.m. near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue. Five bystanders were also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Quashie and Vernaza were known to each other, and the shooting appeared targeted, police said. As of Monday evening, no arrests have been made and no information about suspects has been released. 

In a news conference Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw called for federal reforms that would treat deadly shootings in public spaces as possible first-degree murder. 

The local community is still reeling from the tragedy. Business owners in the area described festival-goers rushing to safety in restaurants and local stores. Coffee shop owner Caley Hall described caring for a teen who was shot. She recalled trying to keep the girl calm while waiting for first responders to arrive.

“I just went out in the street and was yelling, I’ve got a gunshot wound in here,” Hall said. 

Police are now reviewing surveillance footage from businesses and interviewing witnesses to piece together the moments leading up to the shooting and its aftermath. Police have set up a QR code system to let the public upload any footage that may help investigators.