Saultites witness Eaton Centre shootings

Saultites witness Eaton Centre shootings

SooToday.com received the following first-person account and the photo shown above from Saultite Chris Somme who was in the Eaton Centre in the early evening on Saturday when shots were fired in the food court.

The shooting left one 25-year-old man dead and seven others wounded including a 13-year-old boy.

By the time of writing police had not released a description of the suspect or suspects and no one had been apprehended.

For more on this breaking news story, please visit your preferred online source for Canadian news.

A statement on the shooting from Premier Dalton McGuinty follows.

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Just wanted to update you in the Sault.

Someone started shooting near us awhile ago in Eaton Center food court in Toronto.

We heard multiple gunshots.

All three of us are from the Sault.

As it was very very close to us, we dove under a table and laid on the floor while just trying to stay calm.

We were able to escape through a rear emergency exit with many others that were in the food court area.

While on the floor, I couldn't get through to 911 so I called my wife to tell her I loved her and had her call ssm 911.

Everything is closed off now.

Definitely the scariest moment of our lives.

Thanks

Chris Somme

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Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty issued the following statement on tonight's shootings at Toronto's Eaton Centre:

"On behalf of all Ontarians, I want to express my condolences to family and friends of everyone involved in tonight's shooting at the Eaton Centre.

The victim and those who were injured are particularly in Ontarians' thoughts and prayers right now as we attempt to make sense of this instance of senseless, tragic violence in the heart of a peaceful city.

I also want to thank all the first responders who arrived on the scene and tended to the injured -- and the police who are working hard to bring the shooter to justice.

I know I speak for all Ontarians when I say that while we are saddened and shocked by today's events, we will respond as we always have -- with strength, determination and a desire to work together, and work even harder, to build communities that are safe, secure and free of gun violence."

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