Mass Shooting Rocks Scarborough Pub on Opening Night, Leaving 12 Injured

Toronto, March 8, 2025 – A brazen mass shooting disrupted the grand opening of the Piper Arms Pub in Scarborough, Toronto, late Friday night, injuring twelve people and sending shockwaves through the community. Toronto Police are now in a citywide manhunt for three masked gunmen who stormed the establishment and opened fire indiscriminately on patrons, in what authorities have described as a "reckless and horrifying" act of violence.

The incident occurred just before 10:40 p.m. at the pub located at 520 Progress Avenue, near the bustling Scarborough Town Centre and the intersection of Highway 401 and McCowan Road. According to Superintendent Paul MacIntyre of the Toronto Police Organized Crime Enforcement Unit, the three suspects—armed with an assault rifle and two handguns—entered the crowded venue and began shooting without apparent provocation. "They walked into the bar, produced their guns, and opened fire indiscriminately on the people sitting inside," MacIntyre told reporters at a press conference outside the crime scene in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Emergency services responded swiftly to multiple 911 calls, arriving to find a chaotic scene of shattered glass, overturned tables, and blood-streaked floors. Twelve victims, ranging in age from their 20s to mid-50s, were transported to local hospitals. Six suffered gunshot wounds, while the other six sustained injuries from flying debris, such as broken glass. Miraculously, no fatalities were reported, a fact MacIntyre attributed to "the grace of God." He noted that all injuries, while serious, are considered non-life-threatening, though some initial reports from paramedics described the situation as "dynamic," with a few victims in critical condition earlier in the night.

The Piper Arms Pub, celebrating its first day of operation, was packed with patrons enjoying food and drinks when the gunfire erupted. Security footage reviewed by police captured the chilling moments of the attack, showing revelers diving for cover or collapsing as bullets tore through the venue. "We’ve seen a lot of shootings, a lot of videos," MacIntyre said. "But tonight’s shooting—these guys just looked at the crowd and opened fire." He described the aftermath as "eerie," with drinks and meals left untouched on tables, purses and shoes scattered across the floor, and trails of blood marking the chaos.

As of Saturday morning, the three suspects remain at large. Police have limited details to share about their identities, noting only that they wore masks—one in a black balaclava—and fled the scene in a silver car. Authorities have cordoned off the area around the pub and Scarborough Town Centre, with Progress Avenue closed between Ellesmere Road and Highway 401 to facilitate the investigation. Forensic teams and uniformed officers were seen combing the site for evidence well into the day.

The motive behind the shooting remains a mystery, with Toronto Police vowing to "leave no stone unturned" in their pursuit of answers and justice. "We’re chasing down all leads," MacIntyre said, acknowledging speculation on social media linking the incident to a recent spate of violence tied to the Greater Toronto Area’s towing industry. In recent weeks, territorial disputes among tow truck companies have fueled multiple shootings and an arson incident, but police have yet to confirm any connection to the Piper Arms attack. "We’re open to that possibility, but we haven’t confirmed anything yet," MacIntyre added.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her dismay in a statement posted to X shortly after midnight, calling the shooting "deeply troubling." She confirmed speaking with Police Chief Myron Demkiw, who assured her that "all necessary resources have been deployed" to apprehend the perpetrators. "This is an early and ongoing investigation," Chow wrote. "My thoughts are with the victims and their families." At a Saturday morning press conference originally scheduled to announce a labor deal, Chow reiterated her concern, emphasizing the magnitude of the incident and the number of people affected.

The shooting ranks among Toronto’s most significant mass casualty events in recent years, drawing comparisons to the 2012 Danzig Street shooting, which left two dead and over 20 injured, and the 2018 Danforth Avenue attack, where a lone gunman killed two and wounded 13. For Scarborough residents and the broader Toronto community, Friday’s violence has reignited fears about public safety, even as overall crime rates in the city have reportedly declined. 17GEN4.com