Girl, 11, serious after bus shooting
11-year-old and man, 24, struck in head on Jane St. bus
Fantino pleading for witnesses to late-afternoon incident
HENRY STANCU
STAFF REPORTER
An 11-year-old girl is in serious condition and a young man is fighting for his life after they were hit by shots fired in a bus in North York late yesterday afternoon.
The girl, an innocent bystander, was shot in the head and seriously injured, said Toronto police spokesperson Kristine Bacharach. She was rushed to the Hospital for Sick Children, where she was reported in "very serious" condition late last night.
The 24-year-old man, believed to be the intended victim, was shot in the head, stomach and leg. He was taken to Sunnybrook hospital, where he was listed in serious condition and undergoing surgery.
Police, who called the injuries of both victims "life-threatening," are appealing to dozens of potential witnesses to come forward after commuters fled in a panic when the gunfire erupted aboard the 35C Jane bus at about 5:20 p.m. The shootings occurred as the bus was stopped on Jane St. at Wilson Ave.
Police Chief Julian Fantino, who came to the scene, described the incident as "heinous" and "despicable."
He described the condition of both the girl and the young man as "precarious."
"How could young people be so careless and committed to violence to do the kind of thing that we're speaking about?" Fantino asked. "It's totally disgusting."
The chief, who noted passengers and other witnesses "took off," added "you can't blame them."
"In these very dangerous circumstances, why would people stick around?" Fantino asked.
But, he added, witnesses now have a responsibility to help police track down the shooters. Fantino said approximately 40 passengers were on the bus , and police want to talk to each and every one of them.
"Now that the imminent danger has subsided, we have to count on people to do the right thing," Fantino said. "We're pleading for these people to come forward."
Fantino promised investigators will make arrests.
"Sooner or later we are going to get them," Fantino vowed. "Anybody who harbours them, hides them or assists them whatsoever, they too will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
"These are very dangerous criminals," Fantino added, "and we are certainly intent on making sure they are brought to justice.
"As long as they are out there we are all in peril."
Fantino said it appeared the 24-year-old didn't know his assailants. The shooting occurred after he and his assailants got into a confrontational conversation, Fantino said.
The suspect who fired the shots, believed to be about 18, and at least three other youths got into an altercation with the male victim. After the shooting, they ran across Jane toward the rear of the Sheridan Mall.
The girl was rushed to the Hospital for Sick Children as police questioned her mother, who was also on the bus, along with several other witnesses.
"There were approximately 40 people on the bus and we have very few witnesses now," Inspector Bernie Power said. "Someone knows who these people are."
Police closed off the intersection to northbound traffic and officers combed the shopping mall looking for anyone who may have seen the fleeing suspects.
They're believed to have run toward a high-rise apartment complex on Chalkfarm Dr.
"My God. Even on a bus you can't be safe these days . I just pray the little girl will be all right," said a woman who would only identify herself as Agnes, who was heading home from work.
TheStar
