MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - A 17 year-old boy is dead and multiple people are in hospital with gunshot wounds after gunfire erupted in Mississauga Saturday evening.
Peel Regional Police Chief Chris McCord updated the media at a news conference this afternoon.
He said at least seven suspects unleashed a barrage of gunfire from semi-automatic weapons near a parkette behind an apartment building on Darcel Avenue, in the Goreway Drive and Morning Star Drive area at around 6:20 p.m., before they fled the scene.
Police say the suspects were all wearing dark clothing and some had on balaclavas to conceal their identity.
Officers have since recovered more than 100 shell casings so far, scattered over a wide area. Several vehicles were also struck by bullets.
McCord goes on to say that the 17-year-old old died at the scene and that five others, a 13-year-old, a 16-year-old, two 17-year-olds and a woman in her 50's suffered varying injuries. One was in serious condition, but is now stable, and the four others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The mayor of Mississauga, Bonnie Crombie, was shocked and saddened when she got the news, calling the incident a "senseless act of gun violence'' and says her thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families.
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Crombie thanked first responders who rushed to the scene and she says she hopes to take action in response to the shooting.
"As a member of the police board, I am committed to ensuring Mississauga remains one of the safest cities by working to get illegal guns off our streets,'' said Crombie in a statement.
Newstalk1010 has learned that a music video was being filmed in the area. The same rapper or rappers, who the chief would not name when pressed at the news conference, had apparently released another music video earlier this week.
So was this retaliation for whatever was in that previous video?
"I would say that there is information within that rap video that is challenging other people, within the community, and that's what's upset them," said Chief McCord.
McCord added that the investigation is ongoing and that many questions about the incident still remain unanswered.
What is clear though, according to the chief, the teenager killed was an innocent bystander.
"It was a nice evening last night. There was alot of people outside and they became victims caught up in this attack."
This afternoon, friends and area residents who knew the victim, identified the teen killed as 17 year-old Jonathan Davis.
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Officers continue to canvass the area for surveillance footage and police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to come forward.
With files from The Canadian Press