Police ID victims of 'brazen' Queen Street shooting

Toronto rapperSmoke Dawgand Koba Prime, a man connected to a local music collective,have been identified as the victims killed in a triple shooting Saturday evening that also left a woman with serious injuries.

Smoke Dawg, 21, whose real name is Jahvante Smart, had ties to Toronto rapper Drake and toured with him in Europe last year.

Koba Prime, 28, whose real name isErnest "Kosi"Modekwe, was a brand manager with the hip-hop music collectivePrime.

The pair collaborated as part of thelarger rap collective Full Circle.

Online fundraisersposted onGoFundMehave been set up to help cover the funeral and memorial costs for both men.

Modekwe'spage remembers him as a loving son and brother. "His infectious smile lit up any room he entered and he was instantly friends with anyone he met," the page reads.

"After graduating with honours from the University of Toronto, Kosi Modekwe worked hard to help his single mom and provide for his two siblings."

'Brazen'daylight shooting

Police said the two men were killed following a "brazen"daylight shooting in Toronto'sdowntown entertainment district Saturday.

Shots rang out shortly before 8 p.m. near Queen Street West and Peter Street, police said. The area was bustling with people on the Canada Day long weekend.

The two rappers and a woman were rushed to trauma centres

Police said one of the victims was without vital signs at the scene and was pronounced dead in hospital, while another died in hospital overnight. The woman,believed to be in her30s, is expected to recover from her injuries, according to Det. Jeff Allington.

Post-mortem examinations forSmart andModekweare scheduled for Tuesday.

Toronto Mayor John Torysaid he is "damn mad" about the city's latest gunfire.

People running, screaming after shooting

Witnesses told police that the scene was chaotic following the shooting.

"Reports were coming in from the scene by callers that a number of shots had beenheard and that there were a number of people running and screaming inthe area," Toronto police spokespersonConst. DavidHopkinsonsaidSunday.

When officers arrived, they found two victims on the street immediately. Police searched the area and found the third victima short time later,Hopkinsonadded.

"Typically in scenes like this, we do find the victims in other places;either they are trying to get to the hospital or they are trying to flee the situation," he said.

Police declined to say whether they believe the shooting was targeted.

More than one suspect wasseen running from the area andmay have fled in anSUVor car, police said. Witnesses told reporters they sawa black SUVwith tinted windows and a whiteBentley speeding away.

Allingtonsaid "a number of cars" left the area shortly after the shooting. Homicide detectives would like to talk to those drivers, he said, andpolice areasking other witnesses to come forward.

Gun violence'causing mayhem,' mayor says

Speaking to reporters before a Canada Day parade onSunday morning,Tory said he is angry and concerned about the shooting, butsaid Toronto remains a safe city despite recent gun violence. He also said he spoke to Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders about thislatest incident.

The mayorblamed theshootingon gang violenceand called for people with a history of weapons offences to be kept off the streets.He specifically pointed to those who've been charged with crimes but are ultimately released on bail.

"I just don't think they belong on the streets, and I've talkedto Chief Saunders this morning, and I know that they are hard at work on this one and some of the other shootings we've experienced this year. And we're going to round these people up," Tory said.

"We're going toputthem in jail and then the real question is:Will the system keep them in jail until their charges are dealt with?Because we just can't have these peopleon the streets. They're causing mayhem in, otherwise, a very peaceful city."

Tory said he plans to talk to federal officials again about the number of guns in Toronto. He said he will also speak to the new Ontario government about the role of the court systemin keeping the city safe.

"The gun violence is a challenge for us.And, you know, that's partly because guns are being trafficked in Canada within the current rules. And that's why thoserules need to be strengthened and I've made that very clear to government of Canadait's why we can't have people getting out on bail20 minutes after they'rearrested for using a gun," Tory said.

"We're working on that. I'm speaking out very forcefully on that, and I'll speak to the new government of Ontario about advising Crown attorneys on that."

'We'll hunt them down,' premier says

For his part,Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the shooting is disturbing and curbing gun violence in cities will be a priority with the new Ontario government.

Ford said he thinks police are "the experts" on the issue and will figure out how best to deal with the problem. But the premiersaid he doesn't think the Toronto police should bring backTAVIS, the Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy, a police unit set up in 2006 to curb violence in high crime areas.Its formation came in the wake of the summer of 2005, the so-called "summer of the gun" in Toronto.

"We aren'tgoing to bring back TAVIS, but we are going to give additional funding to Ottawa and Toronto to fight guns and gangs," Ford told reporters outside Queen's Park on Sunday.

Ford declined to say how much the province will give to the two cities, but said justice will be done.

"This is unacceptable. We live in the greatest city in the world. This seems like this is happening every second day. There's a very small, small percentage of gang-bangerschasing each other around and innocent people are getting killed. It's not going to be tolerated under my watch in Ontario, I can tell you that," Ford said.

"We'll hunt them down. We'll hold them accountable."

Police seek photos, videos, security camera footage

A stretch of Queen Street West was closed overnight and into Sunday morning to allow officers to investigate,but it has been reopened.

Witnesses told CBCNews on Saturday night that they heard about nine or 10shots; some said they thought it was fireworks for Canada Day.

LiseRobichaud, who has been living in Toronto for the past two years,was on a streetcar in the area when she said she heard a gunshot.

"I looked outside, I saw a black male fall to the ground, then I heard four more gunshots," she said. "TheTTCdriver told us to get to the ground because it was a shooting. It'sterrifying. I'm still shaking. It's very scary."

Robichaudsaid living in Toronto is "very scary" and she is thinking about moving back home to her native New Brunswick.

Investigators would like to speak to anyone who tookphotos or videos, or who may havedashboard camera video, as well as businesses that might have security camera footage.

Witnessescan call police at 416-808-5200 or 416-808-7400.