Police to update Toronto recording studio shootout investigation

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is expected to provide an update on a shooting investigation from November that saw more than 20 arrests made following a downtown shootout involving rival groups at a recording studio.

Authorities are scheduled to speak at a press conference at 10:30 a.m., where information will be shared concerning the shooting at Queen Street West and Sudbury Street on Nov. 11, 2024.

On the night of the shooting, police said three individuals pulled up to a recording studio at 1196 Queen Street West just before 11:30 p.m. and opened fire on a group of people gathered outside.

The individuals at the recording studio returned fire, forcing the original three shooters to take cover behind an unmarked police cruiser with plainclothes officers inside, who happened to be in the area for a bail compliance check. As the three attempted to flee the scene, their stolen car was rammed by another unmarked police vehicle, forcing the trio to escape on foot.

The individuals who returned fire from the recording studio attempted to flee the scene by discarding their firearms in garbage bins as they left. Officers took several others inside the recording studio into custody while also recovering “numerous firearms.”

Eight of the 23 people taken into custody have been charged to date, and police anticipate more charges will be laid. Two of the eight arrested were out on bail at the time of the shooting while the teen was under a firearms prohibition.

The age of those arrested in the shootout range from 16 to 30 years, including a youth from Brampton who was charged with second-degree murder in the April 25 shooting of Matthew Bergart.

Police said Bergart was visiting a friend at their home at the time of the incident, which they described as a “violent home invasion.”

With files from John Marchesan of The Leader Spirit