This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/24/toronto-shooting-gunman-had-history-of-psychosis-and-depression-family-says

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Toronto shooting: gunman had history of psychosis and depression, family says Toronto shooting: gunman had history of psychosis and depression, family says
(about 2 hours later)
The gunman who shot dead a 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman in an attack on a restaurant in Toronto on Sunday suffered from psychosis and depression, his family have said. The 29-year-old gunman behind an attack that killed two people and injured 13 others in Toronto suffered from psychosis and depression, his family has said.
Faisal Hussain, 29, died in an exchange of gunfire with police after he had shot at diners in a lively neighbourhood in the Canadian city on Sunday evening. It was not immediately clear whether he killed himself or was killed by police. Faisal Hussain died on Sunday after a brief exchange of gunfire with police. Minutes earlier the lone gunman had opened fire along one of the city’s liveliest stretches, seemingly shooting at random at pedestrians and into crowded restaurants.
The shooting has shaken the confidence of many in Canada’s biggest city and comes three months after a van struck and killed 10 people in an apparent attack directed at women. It remains unknown whether Hussain took his own life or was killed by police.
A statement from Hussain’s family said their son had severe mental health challenges and struggled with psychosis and depression. They said medication did not help him and the interventions of professionals were unsuccessful. Police, who said the attack spanned several city blocks, have so far declined to speculate on a motive for the attack.
“While we did our best to seek help for him throughout his life of struggle and pain, we could never imagine that this would be his devastating and destructive end,” the Hussain family said. In a statement, Hussain’s family expressed their condolences to those suffering on account of what they described as “our son’s horrific actions,” adding that they were “utterly devastated” by the news.
“Our hearts are in pieces for the victims and for our city as we all come to grips with this terrible tragedy. We will mourn those who were lost for the rest of our lives.” “Our son had severe mental health challenges, struggling with psychosis and depression his entire life,” they said. Professional help, medications and therapy had all failed to help him, they added.
“It’s almost inconceivable that these things can happen,” said the city’s mayor John Tory. “We were so used to living in a city where these things didn’t happen and as we saw them going on in the world around us [we] thought they couldn’t happen here. “While we did our best to seek help for him throughout his life of struggle and pain, we could never imagine that this would be his devastating and destructive end,” they said. “Our hearts are in pieces for the victims and for our city as we all come to grips with this terrible tragedy. We will mourn those who were lost for the rest of our lives.”
“This is an attack against innocent families and our entire city.” The shooting has rattled Canada’s largest city, coming just three months after the driver of a van ploughed into pedestrians on a city sidewalk, killing 10 people and injuring more than a dozen others.
The 18-year-old woman killed in the atack was identified as Reese Fallon, a recent high school graduate who volunteered for Canada’s Liberal party and was due to attend McMaster University in Toronto later this year. Her family said in a statement they were devastated. “It’s almost inconceivable that these things can happen,” said John Tory, Toronto’s mayor. “We were so used to living in a city where these things didn’t happen and as we saw them going on in the world around us [we] thought they couldn’t happen here.”
He described Sunday’s shooting as an “attack against innocent families and our entire city.”
Two people were killed in the attack, including Reese Fallon, a recent high school graduate who had volunteered for Canada’s Liberal party and was due to attend an Ontario university in the fall. In a statement, her family said they were devastated.
“She was ... smart, passionate and full of energy. It is a huge loss,” said Canadian MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who knew Fallon.“She was ... smart, passionate and full of energy. It is a huge loss,” said Canadian MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who knew Fallon.
The 10-year-old girl has not yet been named. The other person killed in the attack – a 10-year-old girl from the Toronto area – has not yet been named.
The 13 wounded ranged in age from 10 to 59, and suffered injuries ranging from serious to minor, the city’s police chief Mark Saunders said. The victims comprised of eight women and girls, and seven men. The 13 wounded ranged in age from 10 to 59, and suffered injuries ranging from minor to life-changing, police said on Monday. The victims comprised of eight women and girls and seven men.
A video taken by a witness showed a man dressed all in black walking quickly down a sidewalk and firing three shots into at least one shop or restaurant. Video of the attack showed a man, dressed all in black, walking quickly down the sidewalk before stopping to fire three shots into what appeared to be a shop or a restaurant.
Witnesses heard many shots and described the suspect walking past restaurants and cafes and patios on both sides of the street and firing into them. Diners had been out enjoying a balmy evening when shots began to ring out. As people scrambled to take cover, Andrew Mantzios watched the gunman crisscross Danforth Avenue, shooting into businesses. People were “falling all over the place – maybe seven, eight, nine of them”, he told the Globe and Mail.
Ontario’s police watchdog said there was an exchange of gunfire between the assailant and two officers on a side street before the gunman was found dead near Danforth Avenue where the shootings occurred. “And then a lady tried to run and she fell down,” said Mantzios. “He turned around and shot her point blank, two or three times.”
An autopsy would be performed on the suspect on Tuesday.Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, said the confidence that Toronto is a safe city had been shaken. It has long prided itself as being one of the safest big cities in the world. Mantzios watched, horrified, as the man continued to make his way down the street. “Believe me, I’ve never seen anything like that,” he said. “I am still in shock.”
The Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: “The people of Toronto are strong, resilient and brave and we’ll be there to support you through this difficult time.” Ontario’s police watchdog said that the gunman was found dead near the site of the shootings after exchanging gunfire with two officers. An autopsy is expected to be carried out on the suspect on Tuesday.
Justin Trudeau said his thoughts were with those affected by what he called a “terrible tragedy” on social media. “The people of Toronto are strong, resilient and brave – and we’ll be there to support you through this difficult time,” the Canadian prime minister wrote on Twitter.
CanadaCanada
AmericasAmericas
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content