3 men shot in Toronto in latest violence linked to towing industry
Police task force trying to crack down on towing-related violence
Two men were shot outside a tow yard in Toronto's west end and a tow truck driver was shot at a gas station in Scarborough late Tuesday, Toronto police say.
The shootings happened roughly an hour apart and police are investigating if they were related. They come as the city is seeing another spate of shootings and other violence linked to the towing industry.
The first happened around 10:20 p.m. outside a tow yard on Glen Scarlett Road, in the area of Weston Road and St. Clair Avenue W.
Two men, one in his 50s and another in his 20s, were shot. The older man is in critical condition, police said, while the younger man has injuries described as non-life threatening.
The later shooting happened at about 11:20 p.m. at a gas station and car wash on Lawrence Avenue E., near Warden Avenue, in Scarborough. Another man in his 20s sustained non-life threatening injuries, police said.
"It is too early in the investigation to determine if these incidents are related. That connection would be made by the investigators however that possibility will be part of their investigation," Const. Viktor Sarudi said in an email.
In January, Toronto police announced a new a task force to address a rise in crime and violence within the towing industry.
Last year, there were 63 firearm discharge and shooting incidents linked to tow truck-related disputes, accounting for almost 13 per cent of all shootings in Toronto, police data shows.