Rexdale 'running gun battle' injuring 4 leaves residents in fear

Residents of an apartment complex in suburban Toronto say they heard multiple gunshots and are fearing for the safety after a "running gun battle" that carried on outside the emergency room of a hospital, and ended up injuring four people.

At around 6:35 p.m. ET Friday, police responded to a call in the Mount Olive Drive and Kipling Avenue area ofRexdalefollowing reports of gunshotsfired into the street-level common area of theapartment complex.

• 4 people wounded after 'gun battle' in Rexdale

Police said four people were shot in multiple incidents in theRexdaleneighbourhood andEtobicokein what they have called "a running gun battle."

CBC News on Saturday spoke to residentswho didn't want their names used, but described what they saw and heard.

"Pop, pop, pop, like many times, one woman said about the gunshots, adding that kids were playing outside at the time.

Police say at least 20 rounds were fired.

"I started running," another woman said.

One neighbour who fearedretaliation, so didnt want to be identified, describedseeing a woman and one-year-old child caught in the gun battle. I thought she was dead because she was right in the midst of the popping."

Police said Saturday that one of the people who wereshot was driven by a friend to Etobicoke General Hospital, unaware they were being followed, and shots were later fired outside the emergency department, resulting in two more injuries. Two people were then rushed to SunnybrookHospital,where alockdownwas issued as a precaution

On Friday night, after the incidents, Toronto Police Services' emergency task force spent hours in search of clues.

Supt. Ron Tavernerof23Division said multiple shell casings were scattered throughout the area when police arrived.

Toronto EMS confirmed Friday nightthat two people, one 23-year-old male and one 24-year-old female, were transported to hospital from the complex at 1 Mount Olive Drive. The man had gunshot wounds in the right hip and was taken to a trauma centre in serious condition. The womanreceived a gunshot woundin the ankle, and was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

Three of the victims have been discharged from hospital, while one of thefourremains atSunnybrookin critical condition.

Investigators were also probing a scene on Martin Grove Road that police said may be linked tothe shooting.

Police said they believe there werefour suspects, two vehicles and multiple firearms involved in the melee, and up to 20 shots were fired.