3 people dead after shooting in North York office, police say

Three people are dead after a shooting inside the lobby of a North York business office that is near a daycare and two schools, Toronto police say.

The shooting happened on Mallard Road, near Don Mills Road, north of Lawrence Avenue E. Police were called to the scene at about 3:40 p.m. Police said the three victims are all adults.

Northmount School, an all-boys Catholic elementary school, was placed in lockdown as police investigated.  A nearby daycare was cleared, police said. Westfield Secondary School is also in the area.

Police said its emergency task force and canine units cleared the building and children were allowed to exit. 

TTC buses were brought in to shelter the children at the elementary school and daycare, police said. At 6:30 p.m., police said all of the children from the daycare and school were reunited with their parents.

Parents and caregivers gathered behind police tape at the daycare to pick up their children. A supervisor earlier told the parents that everyone inside was safe.

Parents reunite with children at daycare

Michelle Riddolls, a mother of two children at the daycare, said she waited about an hour to pick them up. She said she had a lot of anxiety after she heard about the shooting and that the daycare and school were placed in lockdown.

“I’m happy that the kids were safe and that’s what matters,” she said. “I’m happy that the little ones were safe.”

Riddolls said she spoke to the police then she was told by the daycare manager that the children were going to come out, one by one, to be released into the care of the parents who were present.

She said she was feeling “a massive amount of relief” to be able to pick up her children.

Vanessa Smythe, a mother of one child at the daycare, said she was relieved to know that her son was fine. She said the daycare staff were communicating to parents as the incident was unfolding.

“I’m just glad he’s okay,” she said. “We’re going to get him home and fed.”

There is a large police presence in the area and roads are closed as police continue to investigate.