Toronto police say there have been 24 shooting deaths in the city so far in 2024, compared to nine in 2023, 24 in 2022, 17 in 2021, and 21 in 2020.
Johnson said "shooting events" in Toronto are up nearly 74 per cent compared to last year — but it's important to note that the bulk of that number includes firearm discharges where no injuries were reported. Johnson said when it comes specifically to death and injuries, 2024 is consistent with the last several years of shootings, but is an increase compared to 2023 — though he cautioned that year was an outlier with an "unusually low number of shootings.
Police also said intelligence officers are seeing some "concerning trends" when it comes to gun violence — one of which comes from a segment of the city's tow truck industry.