Chinatown shootings not believed to be gang related, Toronto police say

Two men who were fatally shotin Chinatown on Sunday mighthave been targeted but aren't believed to bepart of a street gang,Toronto police said Tuesday.

Quinn Taylor, 29, and David Michael Eminess, 26, were killedand three others were sent to hospital after gunfire brokeout nearSpadinaAvenue and Nassau Street at around 3:18 a.m. Sunday.

The deaths are the city's eight and ninth homicides of the year.

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"I want to make it perfectly clear. I have no information at this time that would indicate that either one of these two individuals are part of or affiliated with any street gang," Staff Inspector GregMcLane said at a newsconference Tuesday when asked byreporters about a possible gangconnection.

McLane painted several scenarios that mighthave led totheshootings.

"One possibility, and I've seen it before, is where there's been some altercation," hesaid.

"Words spoken, an unintentional bump. I'm not saying that's what it is, but it's entirely possible. The shooter has jumped from zeroto 1,000, there's very low tolerance, he's pulled his weapon and killed these two young men."

McLane said eight of the 10 homicides in January were firearms-related, adding that there have been "an average4.7 homicides every January over the last 12 years."

MacLane called Sunday's shootings "abit of an anomaly."

"It's important for the public to know that this type of event where we have discharging of weapons in large groups of people it happens from time to time but it's not the norm," he said.

McLane pleaded for eyewitnesses to come forward.

"There are people out there who know what happened to these young men, and I'll go so far as to say who did it. We want to hear from these people."

McLane said investigators are poring over securityvideo footage from stores in the area andexpects police to release a description of the suspect.