WARMINGTON: Cop car shot, 23 arrests, 100 bullets fired in 'Wild West' shootout

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As Taylor Swift prepares for her string of concerts, we were blasted with a reminder that it’s not really always safe in Toronto, a city plagued by more than one shooting each and every day.

Toronto’s 406th shooting incident of 2024 was a gangster movie-style shootout late Monday night on Queen St. W. in which an unmarked Toronto Police car — with two officers inside — was hit by gunfire.  

There were 100 shots fired, while police made 23 arrests and seized 16 guns.

The officers, ducking bullets, were not hit. But they sure could have been. The police vehicle is said to have been struck by more than one bullet.

“It was a Wild West shootout on Queen St.,” said Toronto Police Association president Clayton Campbell. “It’s very concerning. This was a scary situation and shows how dangerous it is.”  

Chief Myron Demkiw was hard at work overnight gathering all of the details about this shooting which occurred at 11:20 p.m. at Queen and Sudbury St.

“It was crazy,”  said a police source.

The officers in the car were instrumental in making numerous arrests in the loud, terrifying incident.  

One person was taken to hospital as a precaution, but it is believed no one was hurt. Toronto has seen 99 people who have been hit by bullets this year and 40 victims murdered as a result of gunshots.

“There was an exchange of gunfire at around 11:20pm last night at Queen and Sudbury,” said Toronto Police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer. “Almost two dozen people have been arrested, and many guns seized.” 

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Sources tell The Toronto Sun that of the 23 people arrested in and around a music studio, some were on bail and wearing ankle bracelets. 

“Charges are still being worked out,” said Sayer. 

There was also a shooting 40 minutes later, now into Tuesday, in Scarborough, where a house was hit with gunfire. That was Toronto’s 407th shooting this year. Often when there is one shooting incident, there is one in retaliation not long after. So far, police have not indicated there is a connection between the two.

However, it does offer insight into how violent things are in the street in 2024.

It also puts a spotlight on the court system which continues to release violent people before their trials on bail, putting the whole community at risk. All of this is a reminder of how many people are out there on bail for serious crimes and how they laugh at the system and do whatever they want.

It’s also reminiscent of last month’s shooting of a police officer who was making an arrest in a stolen car case. So many alleged criminals are packing heat now that officers or innocent bystanders can be shot at any time.

This case had so many bullets, police were working hard to see if someone somewhere may have been hit with a stray bullet. We have seen that before.

So far, it appears no one was seriously hurt. But with so many shootings, including some in and around the stadium where the Swifties will be gathering for the six big concerts, it’s clear things are not as safe as they should be.

This shooting, and all the firepower found at this scene just four kilometres from the honourary Taylor Swift Way, certainly shows that.

“It’s a miracle no one was hit or killed in this incident,” said Campbell. 

It sure was close.