Toronto, Jul 23 (EFE).- A second victim has died as a result of the mass shooting that stunned Canada’s largest city, Toronto Police said Monday.
The perpetrator shot 14 people and one was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday night, while a second died later at a hospital, police said.
The shooter, identified only as a 29-year-old male, was found dead following an exchange of gunfire with police, though it remains unclear whether he was killed by officers or took his own life.
Authorities did not identify the victims, though it is known that one who died was a woman, while among the most seriously wounded was a little girl as young as 8.
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders asked the public to help with the investigation into the possible reasons for the attack.
In a message on Twitter, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences.
“My thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible tragedy on the Danforth last night in Toronto, and may the injured make a full recovery. The people of Toronto are strong, resilient and brave – and we’ll be there to support you through this difficult time,” the prime minister wrote.
For his part, Toronto Mayor John Tory described the shooting as “unspeakable” and complained that “guns are too readily available to too many people.”
The shooting began around 10 pm Sunday when an individual opened fire on Danforth Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Toronto’s Greektown, an area packed with restaurants, cafes, and bars.
According to witnesses, the shooter began firing a pistol indiscriminately at people on the street.
The images caught by a person with a mobile phone and aired on Canadian television show an individual walking down Danforth Ave. with his head covered with a baseball cap and a bag on his shoulder.
Upon arriving at a store, he turned and started shooting.
A witness said he heard at least 30 shots before the killer was intercepted by police.