Faisal Hussain, gunman in Danforth shooting rampage, killed himself: police source - Action News
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Toronto

Faisal Hussain, gunman in Danforth shooting rampage, killed himself: police source

The gunman in Sunday's deadly attack on Danforth Avenue in Toronto died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head following an exchange of gunfire with officers, a police source tells CBC News.

High-capacity magazine, large quantity of ammunition found in apartment

Faisal Hussain, 29, is pictured here in a photo from approximately two years ago. (Supplied)

The gunman in Sunday's deadly attack on DanforthAvenue in Toronto died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head following an exchange of gunfire with officers,a police source tellsCBCNews.

During the attack, which killed two people and wounded 13 others, police located Faisal Hussain, 29, near Danforth and Bowden avenues the city's vibrant Greektown neighbourhood.

That was where the gunfight took place, according toOntario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

Hussain was found dead some 100 metres awayon Danforth Avenue, leaving a trail of bullets behind him.ReeseFallon, 18,and 10-year-old Julianna Kozis were gunned in hisrampage. Some of the wounded, authorities say, have life-alteringinjuries.

Meanwhile, asecond police source told CBCNews that investigators located a high-capacity magazineand a large quantity of ammunitionfor an assault-stylerifle while searching Hussain's apartment in theThorncliffe Park neighbourhood. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.

That sourcesaidHussainwas not known to be a gang member.

Video posted on social media showed Hussain clad in black, firing at least three shots into a cafe or restaurant. (@ArielAnise/Twitter)

Body released to family

But the first police sourceearlierallegedthat Hussain's 31-year-old brother, who has been in hospital in a coma for upwards of a year, hasties to aThorncliffePark gang, which might explainhow he obtained a firearm.

Hussain'smental health problems he suffered depression and psychosisaccording to his family have raised questions about how he got a gun.

A source close to the family, also speaking on condition of anonymity,said the family had no knowledge of such activity by the brother.

Julianna Kozis, left, and Reese Fallon, right, were killed in the shooting. (Toronto Police Service/Facebook)

A police source earlier toldCBCNews thatHussain'sprior contact with authorities had involved mental health problems.Hussaindid not have a criminal record andhis prior contact with police did not involve a risk to public safety,according to a Toronto Police Service spokesperson.

The revelations comeone day after apost-mortemexamination onHussain, though theSIUdeclined to comment on its results, citing the ongoing investigation.

Hussain's body was released to his family on Tuesday, anSIUspokesperson told CBC News in a statement. His body was buried on Wednesday, a source close to the family said.

As investigators work to determine Hussain's motive, police refuted a report thatthe Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had claimed responsibility for the shooting.

"At this stage, we have no evidence to support these claims," said Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders said in a statement.

ISIS did not provide any evidence to support the claim, nor canCBCNews verify the legitimacy of the ISIS statement.

Concern over 'backlash'

A representative of theMasjidDar-us Salaam mosque, whereHussain'sfather sometimes prays,said the first thing that came to his mind when the shooterwasidentifiedwas "backlash."

"Because he's a Muslimpeople will just attach religion to it and condemn the whole religion and condemn all Muslims," saidIlyas Mullah.

Mullah says the shooting underscoresa serious need for better education around mental health in society.

Ilyas Mullah says the shooting underscores a serious need for better education around mental health in society. (CBC)

The Canadian Council of Imams echoed that sentiment in a statement Tuesday:

"While we await the full investigation by the Toronto Police Services, this is certainly a cause for all of us to make mental health a priority in our communities to help avoid terrible tragedies like this from ever happening again," it said.

"This senseless and unspeakable act of violence has no place in our society."

With files from Dwight Drummond, Shanifa Nasser, Natalie Nanowski