Toronto police identify victims of fatal shooting at weekend street festival

Police say Salsa on St. Clair shooting was targeted

Leslie Church, the member of Parliament for the Toronto riding where the festival shooting took place, said she'll work with police to enact the "strongest" community safety measures.

In an interview with CBC News Network, Church weighed in on Toronto police calling for federal legal reform to treat shootings in public spaces that result in a death as first-degree murder.

She noted the federal government's bail reforms act, which tightens bail and sentencing for repeat offenders and comes into force Wednesday. Church refrained from saying she agreed or disagreed with Demkiw’s specific calls.

"We're looking to keep working with police to make sure that we have the strongest measures in place to deal with concerns around public and community safety right now," she said.

In a news release Monday, Toronto police said the shooting at Salsa on St. Clair marks the 19th and 20th homicides of the year.

According to Toronto police data, there have been six firearm discharges this July. In 2025, that number was two.

When asked about keeping festivals safe in the city, Demkiw said safety is a "shared responsibility" between police, the local community and organizers.

"It's going to take a comprehensive table of stakeholders to come together and work on what that looks like over time," he said.

Chow said the city has learned a lot from collaborating with Toronto police for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Now, there needs to be even more teamwork, she says.

Toronto’s mayor is looking to bring all the festival organizers together to look at best practices for operating large public events.

Demkiw said a sense of safety in the city was shaken this weekend, which is why police are asking for legal reform.

"If you pull out a gun in a public space … that should be treated with the utmost seriousness in the law," he said.

Demkiw is calling for federal reforms to treat shootings at public events as crimes that would be classified as first-degree murder.

Demkiw said the city has a handgun problem that traces back to the U.S.

Demkiw says police are still investigating the incident and, therefore, don't have information on suspects at this time.

He said officers continue to collect witness statements. Demkiw did, however, confirm this was a targeted event.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police. Investigators have also generated a QR code, where those with information can upload images and videos of the incident.

Toronto mayor calls Salsa on St. Clair incident ‘disgusting’

Toronto mayor Olivia Chow says she is confident police will be able to find those responsible for the Salsa on St. Clair fatal shooting, calling the violence 'reckless and disgusting.'

Chow says she is confident police will be able to find those responsible for the shooting.

"The violence on St. Clair was reckless and disgusting," she said.

Chow said she is grateful to investigators, but also to people on the streets who took action to help out.

"In difficult times, Toronto's spirit shines," she said. "I want to thank Torontonians for looking after each other, as always."

Police have identified the two people killed in Saturday's shooting. A news release said a total of seven people were located with gunshot wounds at the festival.

One man was pronounced dead on the scene, while another died in the hospital, police said.

The victims have been identified as Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20.

Demkiw says the country needs gun reform to address shootings at public events. Such offences should be classified as first-degree murder, he added.

"Street festivals are a vital part of Toronto’s culture," Demkiw said.

While shootings in the city are down 26 per cent in comparison to last year, security measures such as screenings and access points are options Toronto police will be looking into, Demkiw said.

"As police, we'll do anything we can to tackle gun violence."

Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw says police are still gathering evidence on what happened at Toronto's Salsa on St. Clair street festival. The victims have been identified as Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20.

Demkiw said police are still gathering evidence on what happened at the festival.

The events of the weekend underscore the need for "ongoing discussions" between police, city and festival organizers to keep public events safe, he said.

Demkiw said police remain "mindful" of potential connections between three shootings that happened in the city over the weekend.

"We will leave no stone unturned as we work to find those responsible."