Toronto, July 24, 2018
Toronto police officers walk on Danforth Avenue after Sunday's shooting. Photo: Tony Smyth/CBC 13 innocent people were injured and three have died after a lone gunmen opened fire on the busy Danforth Avenue in Toronto Sunday night.
An 18-year-old woman named Reese Fallon and a 10-year-old girl were tragically killed during the shooting, as well as 29-year-old Faisal Hussain, the suspected gunman, who was found dead after an exchange of fire with the police.
Toronto mayor John Tory wrote on Twitter: “While our city will always be resilient in the face of such attacks, it does not mean such a cowardly act committed against our residents is any less painful—this is an attack against innocent families and our entire city.”
The 18-year-old killed in Sunday night's shooting on Danforth Avenue in Toronto has been identified as Reese Fallon. Photo: Facebook In response to the tragedy, Orthodox hierarchs of Toronto have offered their condolences and words of pastoral consolation.
The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada has released a statement, including the words of His Grace Bishop Casian:
With great sadness, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada learnt of the recent tragic event that took place last night in Greektown, Toronto, Canada. H.G. Bishop Ioan Casian with the clergy and believers of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Canada, are solidary with those affected by this tragedy. Bishop Ioan Casian urges the clergy and believers of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada to raise thought and prayer for all those affected and for those who have lost their lives in the tragic incident in Toronto that left two dead and 13 injured.
“It is a sad day for all of us who learnt of the tragic event in Toronto. We are just a few months away from another sad event that has taken place here involving other victims. Sunday is for us Christians a day of joy because of the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ in the Divine Liturgy. However this Sunday will be remembered as a day of sadness due to this tragedy that affects us all. We continue to pray that the Good God will bring relief to those affected and their families. We also pray for the loving and merciful God to give rest to those who have fallen asleep.”
His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian will be in contact with the Romanian authorities in Toronto to see if any of the victims are of Romanian origin.
A statement from His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto reads:
A heart-breaking act of violence took place last night at the Greektown on the Danforth. Two innocent people lost their lives: a 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman. We pray for the repose of their souls and extend our sincere condolences to their families and friends. The gunman himself also lost his life; we pray for him as well and mourn the tragedy that would lead someone to perform such an evil act. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the wounded and we humbly entreat our merciful and loving Lord Jesus Christ to completely restore their health. Faith in God and love for our neighbour can help us overcome such tragedies; love and forgiveness will always allow good to triumph over evil and for light to overtake darkness.
His Eminence fittingly closes his words with, “Let us therefore pray for those who are no longer with us and provide comfort to all affected by this shooting.”
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