Police search for motive in Scarborough pub mass shooting as councillor suggests link to tow truck violence

Ethan Lang · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 10, 2025 6:21 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

As constabulary proceed to hunt for suspects and a motive successful a wide shooting at a Scarborough pub Friday, 1 section councillor says he's received calls that suggest it whitethorn beryllium connected to unit successful the towing industry.

On Friday evening, 3 equipped men walked into Piper Arms Pub adjacent the Scarborough Town Centre promenade and opened occurrence connected the assemblage inside, injuring 12, constabulary say. No 1 was killed, but the 3 suspects fled and stay astatine large.

A motive has yet to beryllium determined and constabulary accidental they are pursuing each leads.

But Coun. Michael Thompson, who represents the Scarborough ward wherever the shooting took place, says he's had aggregate conversations implicit the past 3 days with "individuals connected with the industry," suggesting the shooting was portion of a towing turf war.

"I had a gathering this greeting with immoderate folks who person indicated to maine that they judge … this is connected to the ongoing tow motortruck issues that we've been seeing successful the city," Thompson said successful an interview. 

Thompson did not supply much details astir the individuality of his sources or wherever they got their information.

A transportation betwixt the shooting and unit successful the towing manufacture has not been confirmed by CBC Toronto oregon police.

"What they're acrophobic astir is that we tin spot a speedy effect to what has taken spot present connected Friday night," Thompson said. 

"I don't person each the information, but we're looking to research what's really going on, due to the fact that this is my community, and we're acrophobic astir the information of the community," helium said. 

CBC Toronto has near aggregate messages with Piper Arms Pub, attempting to scope the owners for comment, but has yet to perceive back.

Asked Saturday astir a imaginable transportation betwixt the shooting and unit successful the towing industry, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw declined to speculate.

"We volition spell wherever the grounds leads us," helium told reporters.

Premier says tow motortruck unit is retired of control

Ontario Premier Doug Ford decried the emergence successful unit related to Toronto's tow-truck manufacture Monday. Answering questions astatine an unrelated quality conference, Ford said guiltless lives were being hurt, though helium did not notation Friday's shooting.

"You're putting the assemblage successful danger," Ford said, addressing radical successful the towing manufacture participating successful transgression activity. "I volition walk thing I tin to enactment an extremity to this."

Toronto constabulary launched a caller task unit this twelvemonth to specifically code transgression and unit successful the tow motortruck industry. 

In 2024, determination were 63 firearm discharge and shooting incidents linked to tow truck-related disputes, accounting for astir 13 per cent of each shootings successful Toronto, constabulary information shows.

Police proceed to inquire anyone with accusation astir Friday's shooting to travel forward.