RAPTORS RALLY SHOOTING: 3 arrested ID'd, one man sought
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Toronto Police say there is still a suspect and a gun outstanding in the shooting that marred the Toronto Raptors NBA championship celebrations on Monday.
Four people suffered wounds, three others were arrested and police retrieved two guns next to Nathan Phillips Square at about 3:45 p.m. just as the team was being introduced to a massive crowd.
Chief Mark Saunders said Tuesday that officers are looking for a fourth suspect and a gun that matches shell casings found at the scene.
“There is a potential firearm out there that hasn’t been seized,” Saunders said. “We have three people charged and we are looking for more.”
Shaquille Anthony Miller, 25, Abdikarim Kerow, 18, and Thaino Toussaint, 20 — all of Toronto — face numerous charges in connection with the case.
Kerow also faces charges related to a prior warrant.
Police alleged Miller and Toussaint were each in possession of a handgun upon their arrest.
“It’s our hope to lay more charges and bring people before the judicial system,” the chief added.
Police are looking for witnesses or anyone who may have captured video of the incident.
“You can’t have people in a small space (like where the shooting occurred) and say, ‘I didn’t see anything,'” he said.
The four people injured suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
“It doesn’t diminish the fact when there is gunplay, there is a lot of fear in that situation,” Saunders said.
The suspect wanted is described as a white male between 5-foot-9 and 6-feet tall with light, short brown hair and a heavy build wearing a white button-down shirt.
Vancouver’s Steve Kern, a sergeant major with the Canadian Armed Forces and volunteer paramedic, was a stone’s throw away from the gunfire.
“I hear shots and knew it wasn’t fireworks. Everyone turned and started running in my direction, but because of my training I moved towards the shooting. I weaved through the crowd and stood on a concert block and could see two people on the ground,” Kern told the Sun Tuesday.
“The first was receiving care and I went to the other to provide assistance. There was a nurse, a Toronto tactical paramedic a civilian doctor and a police officer holding her head in support. We all worked together as a team.”
Because of the crowds an ambulance had difficulty getting to the scene.
“Toronto police were quick to respond and I didn’t fear for my safety because all the police were around.”
The last time Kern was in Toronto was almost 26 years ago for the celebrations when the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series.
He said what occurred Monday was unfortunate. “It was pretty isolated and the event people handled it well,’ he said.
Flory Argousti was in Nathan Phillips Square with her 17-year-old daughter, Thalia, when the shots rang out and says the ripple of panicked people could have left them dead.
“There was a wall of people running and pushing and we fell — it was a horrible experience,” said Argousti, who with her daughter fell to the ground and were “squashed.”
“We found enough space to get up and run to Queen St. and get out. It was a horrible experience. I’m just thankful that no one was trampled to death.”
Argousti, like many others, credits Toronto Raptors play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin, who was on stage at the time, for keeping the stampede to a minimum.
“I don’t know what made him say what he said, but he refocused everyone to stay calm. He said there was an emergency situation, but it was being taken care of. He focused people’s attention on him, otherwise it would have gotten really ugly. He’s my hero,” Argousti said.
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