'Hallmarks of gang activity': Increased police presence as Toronto police investigate 2 North York shootings

There’s a ramped up police presence in one North York neighbourhood as Toronto police search for those responsible for two back-to-back shootings, one of which was fatal.

There’s a ramped up police presence in one North York neighbourhood as Toronto police search for those responsible for two back-to-back shootings, one of which was fatal.

The shootings, which occurred on Friday and Saturday in the area of Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue, just north of Finch Avenue, left one person dead and a teenage boy critically injured.

The incidents happened less than 24 hours apart.

In both cases, the victims were waiting outside of a bus stop in the area when an unknown suspect approached and fired shots at them, police said Saturday.

The victim of the Saturday shooting was shot three times, twice in the stomach and once in the head, and died in hospital, while the victim of the Friday shooting, a 16-year-old boy, was shot in the face and rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he remains in critical, but stable condition.

The identity of the deceased victim has not been released as their next of kin has not been notified, police said.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon, Insp. Peter Wehby said although the two shootings “appear to be random,” investigators are looking into why the victims were targeted.