A Toronto real estate executive and his family were attacked during an early morning home invasion in the city's Bridle Path neighbourhood, police said. Toronto Police said three masked suspects entered the home through a rear door around 3:44 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday and demanded valuables.
David Morton, chief executive of the Mac Group, confirmed the attack in a statement. Morton said three members of his family were shot and are recovering in hospital. He wrote that all four family members were also attacked with a hammer. Media reports indicate that his two adult daughters were shot and his wife was struck in the head with a hammer. Police have not identified the victims. They listed the victims' ages as 75, 64, 28 and 26.
Police said the suspects fled in a car. They have not released the suspects' identities. Police believe the three suspects are men in their 20s. Inspector Kristy Smith said police do not yet know whether anything was taken. Investigators are working to recover bullet casings.
Police believe the family was targeted because they lived in an affluent area. Smith said, "Typically, in an affluent neighbourhood comes nice things – and there's always people out there that want to acquire nice things." Police said home invasions are rising in Toronto. Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said Bridle Path residents should expect increased patrols in the coming days.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she was "deeply troubled" by the attack and wrote that "this violence is not acceptable in our city." Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called the incident "horrific" and said the suspects "must be apprehended and held accountable."