Police Release Identities of 2 Men Killed in Toronto Festival

Shaquan Quashie (L) and Cesar Vernaza (R) were killed in a July 11 shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival in Toronto, according to the Toronto Police Service. Toronto Police Service handout

Police have released the identities of the two men killed in the deadly shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival in Toronto on July 11 that also left five others with non-life-threatening injuries.

The festival celebrating Latin music and culture had roughly 13,000 people gathered when the shooting broke out, according to police.

“The victims have been identified as Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20,” Toronto Police Service wrote in a July 13 release.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said July 13 that the shooting was a “targeted event” and that Quashie and Vernaza knew each other. He added that police are also investigating whether two additional shootings in Toronto over the weekend have any link to the Salsa on St. Clair attack.

The attack occurred shortly after 8 p.m. near St. Clair Ave. West and Arlington Ave. in midtown Toronto when police say they responded to reports of gunfire at the festival.

Upon arrival, they found seven individuals who had suffered gunshot wounds, five of whom were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“One adult male was pronounced deceased on scene and one adult male was pronounced deceased at hospital,” police added of Quashie and Vernaza, without specifying which.

Two firearms were recovered at the scene, according to police. Police have not announced any arrests, nor have they shared any further information on a possible suspects.

Speaking to press previously on July 11, Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said the investigation is “complex” and added “there’s obviously several suspects,” but did not provide further details.

For his part, Demkiw said there should be stronger penalties for such public attacks, saying they “should be treated with the utmost seriousness in the law.”

“If you pull out a gun in a public space, in a public square or the Eaton Centre or any other public gathering and fire it indiscriminately, that should be treated with the utmost seriousness in the law,” Demkiw said July 13 at a press conference also attended by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

“If someone dies as a result of that [shooting], there should be no debate on what the motive was behind that shooting. That should be a pathway to first-degree murder in and of itself and that’s the reforms we’re looking to see our federal government consider,” he added.

The second day of Salsa on St. Clair scheduled for July 12 was cancelled as a result of the shooting while police continued their investigation, with Demkiw saying that police will continue to do what they can to “tackle gun violence” but also calling on the community to be involved.

“Legislators, parents, schools, school boards, community organizations and all other partners have an essential role to play in intervening and preventing gun violence in our city,” he said.

A vigil to honour the victims of the shooting is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EDT on Monday at St. Matthew’s United Church in Toronto on St. Clair Ave. near where the attack took place.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.