A shooter fired at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on Monday morning, marking the second such attack on the building this year. Authorities are seeking a white Honda Accord that fled the scene at high speed.
Toronto deputy chief Frank Barredo stated that an officer heard a gunshot around 4:46 a.m. and observed the vehicle, which had no license plates, speeding away. Police attempted to pursue the car but stopped the chase due to safety concerns related to the suspect's speed and a lack of aerial support. A single shell casing was recovered, and minor damage was found on the consulate's facade. No injuries were reported.
Barredo described the attack as "reckless" and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called the incident a "brazen attack" and committed to working with authorities to curb illegal gun trafficking in the city, directly addressing the perpetrators by saying, "We will get you."
In March, two suspects, Sheldon Tracy-Stewart, 18, and Zara Jabbi, 19, were apprehended for a previous shooting at the same consulate. In that incident, the duo allegedly fired multiple shots from a handgun at the building before escaping in a stolen vehicle. Constable Marc Pinizzotto was killed in June during a gun battle with Jabbi and another teenager while investigating the March consulate shooting. Nicholas Bennett, 19, faces first-degree murder charges in connection with Pinizzotto's death.
Investigators have also suggested that the young suspects may have been hired to target Jewish institutions, according to CBC reports. Barredo indicated that the investigation into the recent shooting would proceed with the same "dedication" as the previous one.
While the motive for Monday's shooting remains unclear, police have not ruled out a connection to other recent incidents. Last weekend, two Jewish-owned bakeries were targeted by gunfire. Toronto police indicated in June that several shootings might be linked to "multilayered" gun-for-hire networks that have also targeted synagogues in the city.
Authorities are appealing to the public for assistance, asking anyone who was in the vicinity of the U.S. Consulate between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Monday and may have dashcam footage or noticed anything unusual to contact the Toronto Police Service at 416-808-2222. The investigation is ongoing.