 Police are pictured near the scene of a mass shooting which took place at an outdoor barbeque party on Danzig Street in Toronto. (ERNEST DOROSZUK/QMI Agency)
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TORONTO - A 19-year-old man is charged in Monday's barbecue bloodbath that left two party-goers dead and 23 others wounded at an east end public housing complex.
Toronto Police said the mass shootings -- the worst in the city's history -- was a shootout involving at least two guns and as many as 200 people gathered at an outdoor party on Danzig Street.
Nahom Tsegazab of Toronto is now charged.
"At this point, he's only charged with reckless discharge firearm," Const. Wendy Drummond said Thursday.
What role Tsegazab allegedly played in the gun battle is still unclear.
The bullets began flying around 10:40 p.m. sending people running for their lives and witnesses have described bodies "dropping like flies."
Some residents of the townhouse complex claim one man was struck and as he fell to the ground, he pulled out a gun and returned fire wildly.
Within hours of the deadly shootout, an emotional police Chief Bill Blair addressed the media and explained that one of the nearly two dozen injured was considered a "person of interest" in the case.
Police aren't revealing much about the accused but it appears Tsegazab is the "person of interest" the chief was referring to.
He remains in custody awaiting a court appearance.
"The investigation is very much ongoing," Drummond said.
Investigators are awaiting forensic testing of the handgun seized the night of the shooting before any further charges can be laid.
Police have yet to release a description of the second gunman.
But they are appealing to anyone with photos or video from the party to forward them to homicide investigators.
Anyone with information should contact Det.-Sgt. Graham Gibson at 416-808-7405 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca
