Toronto Father of Two Killed After Gun Battle On Busy Downtown Street

Hou Chang Mao
was stacking oranges outside the Gerrard St. E. grocery store where he
worked when he was caught in the crossfire of a gun battle that erupted
on a bustling city street, Toronto police said today.

"Whatever the perceived slight or disagreement between these two
groups, surely they cannot justify or walk away from the fact that
their reckless actions killed an innocent man," Homicide Det. Sgt.
Pauline Gray told a packed news conference at police headquarters.

An innocent bystander was killed in an apparent shootout on a busy street in Toronto's east end during the supper hour on Thursday.

The victim's body was found lying on the sidewalk in front of the Fu Yao Supermarket on Gerrard St. East.

"There were shots fired on the street, several shots," said Toronto police chief Bill Blair who went to the scene later Thursday night.

"And unfortunately those shots were fired very recklessly and it appears that a totally innocent bystander -- for the second time in a week -- has been struck on a busy downtown street and lost his life."

There was an apparent exchange of gunfire between two people on Gerrard Street East, reported CTV Toronto's Matet Nebres from the scene late Thursday night.

Another man in his mid-40s, not the intended target, was struck. Police found him bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest, with no vital signs. He was rushed to St. Michael's hospital.

"But despite their best efforts, paramedics could not save him," reported Nebres.