Gunmen in Piper Arms Pub mass shooting were 'young, professional,' Toronto councillor says

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 26, 2025 11:29 AM EDT | Last Updated: 22 minutes ago

The 3 gunmen who opened occurrence astatine a Scarborough pub earlier this period "appeared young, nonrecreational [and] calm," Coun. Michael Thompson said, citing his conversations with victims. 

"[They were] successful nary hurry, changeable up the edifice and past near without saying not 1 word," Thompson said, speaking astatine metropolis assembly connected Wednesday. Thompson represents Scarborough Centre, the ward wherever the shooting happened. 

The gunmen walked into Piper Arms Pub connected March 7 and opened occurrence indiscriminately. No 1 was killed but 12 radical were injured. The suspects fled and stay outstanding. 

Seven radical were changeable and 5 were injured by breached solid and different debris, Thompson said. He said he's met with 4 of the victims who were shot, who told him the gunmen were equipped with battle rifles and handguns. 

A TTC autobus operator was changeable six times successful his limb and groin, Thompson said. Another unfortunate who was changeable cannot usage his arms for the adjacent six weeks. 

"Ordinary radical were subjected to trauma," Thompson said.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said helium was not alert astir a autobus operator being injured successful the shooting. 

No caller accusation connected shooting, constabulary say

In an email to CBC Toronto connected Wednesday, Toronto constabulary said they had nary caller accusation astir the shooting. 

Speaking Wednesday, Thompson said determination were "many rumours arsenic to the imaginable motive for the shooting, including media speculation astir the quality and the tow motortruck industry." 

Earlier this month, helium said that he'd heard from constituents that the shooting was related to a tow motortruck manufacture turf war. Police and CBC Toronto person not confirmed immoderate connection. 

The shooting happened during a solemnisation connected the pub's opening night, Thompson said. The pub was a "dream project" for the owners who spent two-and-a-half years renovating the space. 

"The owners are devastated, they're successful shock," helium said. "They person nary thought wherefore their constitution was targeted." 

Thompson asked anyone with accusation astir the shooting to interaction constabulary oregon permission an anonymous extremity with Crime Stoppers. 

"We person not been cowered by those among us who privation to endanger our consciousness of information and enjoyment of our city," helium said.