Teenage boy dies after stabbing near Woodbine Beach: police

• UPDATE: Police have identified the 14-year-old boy. Read the latest here.

A teenage boy has died after being found with stab wounds near Woodbine Beach on Saturday night, Toronto police say. 

The incident happened around 10:10 p.m. near Eastern and Coxwell avenues, police said in a post on X..Paramedics were flagged down to the area after reports of someone being stabbed, and officers responded shortly afterwards, said Det.-Sgt. Alan Bartlett said. 

When they arrived, they found a male victim with injuries. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

The boy was found inside a McDonalds near the intersection, Bartlett said. He said there were "literally hundreds" of people in the area when the incident happened.

Police did not provide the victim's exact age. 

No arrested have been made as of Sunday morning, Bartlett said. Police are in the process of reviewing video footage from the area, he said at a news conference on Sunday. 

"I would encourage you, if you were involved in this incident, to seek legal counsel, contact the police and surrender yourself," he said.

Bartlett couldn't comment on whether a weapon had been collected from the scene. 

"We're working diligently to process all sorts of items of evidence, but I'm not going to speak specifically to the weapon," he said. 

Anyone with information or video of the incident is asked to contact police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.

Neighbourhood reacts to the incident 

Resident Olivia Kang says she had no idea what happened in the area until she went to McDonald's to get her breakfast Sunday morning. 

"It's honestly super scary and surprising that that would happen in such a quiet neighbourhood," she told CBC on Sunday.

Adel Gaynutdinov says he visits the area sometimes and is concerned about the number of crimes happening in Toronto. 

"I'm concerned about the future," he told CBC. "This kind of place is where we bring our families and kids, and when this kind of stuff happens here, I don't feel safe. This needs to be addressed."

Saturday's stabbing happened just across the street from the African music festival, AfroFest. The festival's executive director Peter Toh says it is "very unfortunate" that the incident happened so close by. 

Toh says they have increased the number of marshals, private security, and Toronto police to provide more safety to the community attending the festival on Sunday.

He says the festival is also looking at other safety protocols for the next editions, including fencing the event area to have a security check on bags of people attending the festival.

"We are peaceful people. The event has always been very, very peaceful, very positive," said Toh.  

"If you're coming in here, you're here for something positive as opposed to disrupting the peace and stopping individuals who are willing to enjoy the event."