A gunman has escaped after killing a man and injured five others at Toronto's Eaton Centre, one of Canada's busiest shopping malls.
Police said two people were in a critical condition. They included a 13-year old boy, while the man killed was 25. Two people were trampled and pushed in the panic, including a pregnant woman who went into labour.
Witnesses said multiple shots were fired in the mall's food court and hundreds of panicked shoppers sprinted for the exits. The mall, which is popular with tourists, was evacuated. People watched from outside as an injured man with visible bullet wounds was wheeled out on a stretcher.
The Toronto Blue Jays baseball player Brett Lawrie tweeted that he sprinted out of the mall after hearing the shots. "People sprinting up the stairs right from where we just were."
Marcus Neves-Polonio, 19, was working in the food court when he saw a man pull out a gun and start firing. At least two people were on the ground, he said. "All of a sudden a herd of people were just running toward us, a massive crowd of people screaming, running, freaking out," said Hannah Stewart, 21, a shopper. "We saw this girl, sitting on the ground, and she had blood on her toes." The girl appeared to have been one of the victims and told Stewart she had just been shot.
Erica Solmes, a store manager in the food court, said she heard about 15 shots before a stampede for the exits. Transit service around the mall was shut down for a time.
Fatal shooting at Toronto's Eaton shopping centre - BBC News
The BBC's Lee Carter describes events at the Eaton Centre
One person has been killed and seven others injured in a shooting at Toronto's main central shopping centre, Canadian police have said.
Witnesses described scenes of panic after gunfire broke out in the food court of the Eaton Centre.
"A herd of people were just running toward us, screaming, running, freaking out," said one shopper.
Police said two of the injured were in a critical condition and warned that they were still hunting the shooter.
A 13-year-old boy was among those seriously injured.
Officials said a 25-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
As crowds gathered outside, an injured man with two bullet wounds in his chest was wheeled out on a stretcher and rushed away by ambulance.
Toronto police chief Bill Blair described it as a targeted shooting in which bystanders were also hit.
"The nature of the wounds indicate this individual was targeted," he said.
"A lot of innocent people were hurt and a lot of innocent people were put at risk.
"We will be relentless in our pursuit of the individual or individuals that were responsible. We are receiving a lot of co-operation from the people that were present in the food court."
He added: "I believe every Torontonian is shocked and appalled by this crime."
Although some witnesses said they saw a man with a gun, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford told reporters at the scene that it was not immediately clear if the shooter was a man or a woman.
"It's terrible when you hear something like this," said Mr Ford.
"My heart goes out to the families that have been affected by this terrible crime. We have to apprehend this shooter."
Marcus Neves-Polonio, 19, who works in the shopping centre's food court, said he saw a man pull out a gun and start firing. He saw at least two people on the ground.
Erica Solmes, manager of a McDonald's outlet, said she heard about 15 shots before hundreds of shoppers started stampeding for the exits.
Police constable Victor Kwong said at least two people had been trampled in the rush, including a pregnant woman who subsequently went into labour.
Gun ownership in Canada has been subject to licensing since the 1970s, and gun crime has dramatically declined over the years.
The last similar incident in Toronto was in 2005, when a gunman opened fire in a street near to the Eaton Centre and killed a teenage girl.
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Kat Graham Takes Us Movie Awards Dress Shopping! - MTV
UNIVERSAL CITY, California — Kat Graham will be asking everyone who they're wearing when she hits the 2012 MTV Movie Awards red carpet this Sunday. The "Vampire Diaries" star and singer has been handpicked to be MTV's Special Style Correspondent on the red carpet before all the madness kicks off for the main show.
Before Graham hits the carpet at the Gibson Amphitheatre on Sunday, she needs that perfect outfit to wear for the festivities. And she invited MTV News along for a special fitting.
"No pressure! I just have to be very familiar with the designers and the artists and everyone nominated," she said. "It's slightly terrifying, but it's going to be really fun."
When it comes to her look, she explained that she has a specific philosophy. "I wanted to have something that was different, especially since I'm the fashion correspondent," she said. "And I want to set a standard."
One look Kat tried on was black with colored beads and a see-through skirt. "I like it. It's funky and slightly tame, I think, for me. The feathers are fun and it's definitely good if you are bored and you want to play around with your outfit, gives you something to do," she said. "But it might be a little too much."
She then tried on a multi-colored gladiator-style dress, again with see-through detailing and beads. "I don't know. You think the armor shoulders are too much? You never know if somebody's going to attack your shoulders. You have to be ready — anything can happen at the Movie Awards," she said. "This is not going to work."
To find out what she does end up wearing, tune in to the pre-show on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV during the "Movie Awards Punk'd Pre-Party." Graham will join MTV News' very own Sway Calloway, Josh Horowitz and Jim Cantiello as they chat up all the big stars. The night will also feature a very special new episode of "Punk'd" with pro-pranker Ashton Kutcher pulling fast ones on Drake and Kim Kardashian.
The 2012 MTV Movie Awards, hosted by Russell Brand, will follow at 9 p.m. Featured performers include Fun., the Black Keys, Martin Solveig and Wiz Khalifa.
Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET.
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