Shooting inside Sherway Gardens sends shoppers running for their lives

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But no gunshot injuries reported

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Kevin Connor, Joe Warmington Toronto Police investigate after gunfire erupted inside Sherway Gardens prompting the Etobicoke mall to be locked down on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Joe Warmington /Postmedia Network Article content

Sherway Gardens was locked down Friday afternoon after gunfire erupted inside the Etobicoke mall prompting shoppers to run for their lives.

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Larisa Emes says she and her 14-year-old son James were in the mall, shopping for back-to-school running shoes, when the gunshots rang out.

“There was a whole bunch of people running,” she said in the aftermath. “We didn’t know what was happening. We thought it was a joke.”

Larisa said she and her son “started running.”

“It was pretty scary to see people running,” James recalled.

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Toronto Police say they received reports of two groups shooting at each other in the mall â€" located at Hwy. 427 and The Queensway â€" around 2:30 p.m.

Emergency Task Force officers responded and swept the mall with help from police dogs.

A trail of blood was found on the floor inside the mall an witnesses say they saw a man bleeding from the head appearing to be concealing something in his sweatpants as he fled.

Police did not immediately release any suspect descriptions.

There were no reports of anyone suffering gunshot injuries but it’s believed someone may have been hurt during a fight.

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Chief James Ramer was on the scene soon after and said the shooting was sparked by a disagreement between “two groups”

While it was unclear how many shots were fired, Ramer said investigators are looking at some “incredible video” footage.

He said it’s believed there was one shooter.

“It’s concerning,” Ramer said, adding people had panic attacks inside the mall. “It’s ridiculous.”

“The reality though is we will find them shortly,” the Chief said. “I suspect we will have an arrest soon”

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Larisa said she has always loved shopping at Sherway Gardens but she may think twice in the future.

“I’ve always thought it was safe,” she said.

“The hairs on our arms basically stood up because we couldn’t believe it,” Larisa said. “And now I don’t feel safe any more coming to this place.”

Police kept the mall in lockdown as they went from store-to-store to investigate.

Sherway Gardens website states the mall will be closed for at least the rest of Friday.

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