New Toronto Consulate Incident
New Shooting Near Toronto U.S. Consulate Under Probe Amid National Security Concerns
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Key Points
1
Shell casing location reported near University and Queen streets (not the Armoury Road area described in the summary).
2
An 18-year-old Sheldon Tracy-Stewart was arrested in Toronto in connection with the March 10 U.S. Consulate shooting and charged with 11 counts, including discharging a firearm and illegal firearm possession; authorities say he was bound by a release order at the time of arrest.
3
Authorities linked the March 10 shooting to an alleged international campaign tied to Iranian-backed groups targeting targets in Europe and North America.
4
The RCMP characterized the March 10 U.S. Consulate shooting as a 'national security incident,' highlighting the wider security implications of the case.
Gunfire erupted outside the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto just before 5 a.m. Monday, with officers discovering a shell casing near University Avenue and Queen Street, according to Toronto Sun. No injuries were reported. Police say a white sedan was seen fleeing the scene shortly after the shooting at 4:46 a.m.
The incident comes nearly five months after a March 10 shooting at the same consulate building at 360 University Ave. — an attack the RCMP called a 'national security incident' linked to an alleged Iranian-backed campaign. Southbound lanes of University Avenue remain closed as investigators work the scene, Chatham Daily News reported.
What Police Found at the Scene Monday Morning
Toronto Police Service officers heard the gunfire themselves and moved in to investigate. They found a shell casing near the consulate as the only physical evidence so far, The Globe and Mail reported. Police have not released a suspect description. They are asking anyone with dashcam footage from the area to come forward.
It is still unclear whether the consulate was the intended target. The shooting happened at 4:46 a.m., a time when the area would have had very little foot traffic, Yahoo News noted. The quick exit of the white sedan suggests the shooting may have been deliberate and planned.
March 10 Attack Tied to Iranian-Backed Gun-for-Hire Plot
The March 10 shooting was not a random act. Authorities described it as part of an alleged international campaign by Iranian-backed groups targeting sites in Europe and North America. An Iraqi national was charged with terrorism offences in connection with the plot, according to Chatham Daily News.
The scheme allegedly used young shooters recruited for hire. An 18-year-old named Sheldon Tracy-Stewart was arrested in Toronto and charged with 11 counts, including discharging a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm. Authorities say he was bound by a court release order at the time of his arrest, Toronto Sun reported.
A Pattern of Gunfire Raising National Security Alarms
Two shootings at the same consulate within five months has put investigators on high alert. The RCMP labeled the March attack a 'national security incident' — a term that signals federal involvement and broader intelligence concerns. The death of a veteran Toronto police officer during related operations added further weight to the probe, according to Daily Herald Tribune.
Both events share key traits: gunfire aimed at or near the consulate, a fast getaway, and no immediate suspect in custody. Investigators have not confirmed whether Monday's shooting is directly tied to the March 10 network. But the overlap is hard to ignore.
Investigation Open, Public Tips Actively Sought
Police have not ruled anything out. The consulate may or may not have been the target, and no motive has been stated publicly. Officers are still gathering facts, Toronto Sun noted. The southbound lanes of University Avenue near the site remain shut down while the scene is processed.
Investigators are appealing to the public for help. Anyone who drove through the area around 4:46 a.m. and has dashcam video is asked to contact Toronto Police. Tips from civilians could prove critical in a case where few details have been confirmed so far, according to Yahoo News.
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