'Many injuries' reported following shooting at Ottawa Airbnb

Luke Kenton
The Daily Mail
Wed, 08 Jan 2020 19:57 UTC

© Associated Press

Police converge on scene of Airbnb shooting in Ottawa

Police hunt gunman after shooting in Ottawa leaves one dead and three people, including a 15-year-old, seriously injured in 'targeted' early morning attack at Airbnb apartment

One person has been killed and three others seriously wounded after a gunman opened fire in a 'targeted attack' in a downtown Ottawa Airbnb apartment this morning.

Ottawa Police and paramedics were called to the 400 block of Gilmour Street shortly before 7:30am to reports of shots fired that had caused 'many injuries'.In a statement, the police department confirmed that one person had been killed at the scene and three others were taken to hospital with severe injuries.

One of the victims is a 15-year-old boy and he was taken to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario for treatment in a stable condition.

The ages and genders of the other victims have not been confirmed but both are said to be in a 'serious' condition'.

© Ottawa Matters

Ottawa Police and paramedics were called to the 400 block of Gilmour Street shortly before 7:30am to reports of an active shooter that had caused 'many injuries'

Police say a 'coordinated response' is currently underway, and said the gunman remains at large as they 'continue to seek a suspect in this shooting'.

Local resident Mark Ignatiev told CTV News that the home where the shooting took place is an Airbnb with three apartments spread across two floors. He said the shooting took place on the first floor

'The scene at Gilmour Street has been secured by police,' Ottawa police said in a news release. 'This is not considered an active shooter situation, but the suspect remains at large and is not in custody.'

© Ottawa Police/Twitter

Police said a 'coordinated response' is currently underway. They have not yet confirmed whether the shooter is still active

Inspector Francois D'Aoust said authorities don't yet have a description of the suspect but officers are going door-to-door in the area to gather more information.

The motive of the shooting remains unknown, though police have said they believe the attack was a 'targeted shooting'. The incident took place on a residential street.

'Major Crime investigators have confirmed that there are no national security implications related to this incident,' a later statement released by the department confirmed.

Local resident Mark Ignatiev told CTV News that the home where the shooting took place is rented out as an Airbnb with three apartments spread across two floors. He said the shooting took place on the first floor.

Ignatiev recalled seeing two people being escorted out of the home on stretchers, one with a wound to the leg and a second with a wound to his arm. One of the victims reportedly said he was 20-years-old when asked by police. He says he then watched on as police apparently retrieved what looked like a gun from a neighboring yard.

The motive of the shooting remains unknown, though police have said they believe the attack was a 'targeted shooting'. The incident took place on a residential street

Inspector Francois D'Aoust said authorities don't yet have a description of the suspect but officers are going door-to-door in the area to gather more information

Though still unconfirmed by police, the Parliament of Canada Protective Service sent out an emergency to all federal government employees at 8:04am warning of an 'active shooter' who is still at large

© Parliament of Canada Protective Service

The scene of the shooting is less than a kilometre south of Parliament Hill. Police are urging people to avoid the area.

An emergency message was sent out by the Parliament of Canada Protective Service to all federal government employees at 8:04am warning of an 'active shooter' who is still at large.

'Be advised: Active shooter near Gilmore St. and Kent St. Be vigilant. Shooter is still at large,' the message reads.

Gilmour Street remains closed between Kent and Lyon while the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Ottawa Police Service Major Crime Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

This is a developing story

Comment: CTV News reports:

Ottawa police say one person was killed and three seriously injured in a shooting in downtown Ottawa Wednesday morning.

Acting Insp. Francois D'Aoust said at the scene that police believe the attack was targeted and there was no "active shooter" in the city, contrary to an immediate warning from the Parliamentary Protective Service, which guards nearby Parliament Hill.
[...]

Kacey Griffiths, who lives next to the house where the shooting occurred, said she woke up to find heavily armed police surrounding the building. She says she watched as police thoroughly searched the residence before two young people were taken away on stretchers.

Paramedics were working on a third person in the backyard, she added.

"They were both people I've never seen before," said Griffiths, who admitted to having been shaken by the shooting. "I'm very local here, I know my neighbours. I've never seen these people in my life."

Griffiths, who suspected the shooting was gang-related, said the street was previously rocked by a shooting last May. Police at the time reported that a car had been struck by bullets but that there were no injuries.

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