'JUST SOCIALIZING:' One dead, 4 hurt as shots fired outside Toronto high school

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One minute they were playing dominoes, the next a hail of bullets killed a 61-year-old man dead and sent four others to hospital.

The shooting happened at 11 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of North Albion Collegiate Institute, in the Kipling-Finch Aves. area.

On Monday morning, police gathered evidence, placing at least 24 yellow markers — identifying potential shell casings — on a section of the school’s sidewalk. And there were at least 17 markers where bullets  indiscriminately left marks in walls, windows, and vehicles at the school.

The victims ranged in age from 40 to 61.

Toronto Police Det.-Sgt. Phillip Chapman said five victims were transported to a hospital, where Delroy “George” Parkes of Woodstock died and another was undergoing surgery for “serious life-altering injuries.”

“It was just a group of men who were gathering after playing soccer. They were really just socializing,” said Chapman.

The homicide detective wouldn’t speculate whether any of those shot were “targeted,” saying it was too early to “assess that.”

“I don’t believe it was a shootout. I believe it was one-sided,” said Chapman. “I would say (it happened) in the fraction of a minute.”

Chapman said detectives are hunting two suspects who fled in a dark pick-up truck, and added it’s unclear if both fired weapons.

The Toronto District School Board said North Albion Collegiate Institute and its onsite daycare remained closed Monday to students and staff due to the police investigation. Students were to move to remote learning for the day.

Supt. Ron Taverner said the area was busy on the weekend as other “random” shootings also took place.

On Saturday, a 20-year-old was wounded in a shooting as he walked through a housing complex in the Martin Grove-Albion Rds. area, around 10 p.m.

Less than five hours later, a 14-year-old boy who exited an apartment building and was “randomly shot” and wounded at Richgrove and Willowridge Rds., said Taverner.

“Their wounds are serious but not life-threatening,” said Taverner. “And this just speaks to the randomness of some of these things.”

The senior officer, well-known for years in the north Etobicoke community, grimaced and shook his head while standing at the podium.

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“For us in policing, we intend to step up our vigilance in these areas,” said Taverner, who added “this is very concerning to us and the community.”

A resident, who lives near the school, said she was home with her family when they heard “poppa-poppa-poppa-pop sounds which sounded like fireworks.”

Neighbours came out of their homes “and we assessed it,” said the woman. “It was automatic (gunfire) and people who know it said it was, because the rounds were so fast.”

She said there was a black pick-up truck that “took off” and that one man ran north, while two others fled south through their housing complex.

The woman, who has lived in the townhouses across the street from the school for the past seven years, said older men show up on summer nights and weekends and play “dominoes and chess.”

“It is regular for them. If it is a Saturday or Sunday or holidays, they hang out,” said the woman. “It’s a more mature crowd over there; there are no youths there.”

Toronto Councillor Vincent Crisanti, who showed up to speak with constituents, said the city needs more police officers.

“I spoke with some constituents down the road, and they are afraid for their lives,” said Crisanti.

Crisanti said when he came on city council in 2010, Toronto had 5,800 cops and there are now only around 4,700 officers.