COPS FEAR SHOOTING WAR

2 Wounded, But They're Not Talking To Police

Police patrols are being stepped up in south Etobicoke to prevent any
retaliation attacks after a 22-year-old man was gunned down in a park
Tuesday. Police suspect the 8 p.m. shooting and the beating of an
18-year-old man shortly afterward in the same Lake Shore Blvd. and
Islington Ave. area were a result of a drug deal gone bad, but the
victims are not cooperating, police said.

"They're not being straightforward with us," said Det. Mike Duchak.
"We're concerned that there may be some retaliation in the next 24 to
48 hours, so we're stepping up patrols."

The 22-year-old victim has been moved out of intensive care and is
recovering in stable condition after having one of the three bullets
removed from his body late Tuesday.

The other bullets will remain inside him because surgery to remove
them would too risky.

The man who was beaten with a collapsible scooter suffered a broken
nose and a few stitches and is not in hospital.

Duchak said while the victims aren't cooperating, neither are
residents in the area.

"People are afraid to volunteer information," he said. "I can
understand that and certainly feel for people in the
neighbourhood."

Coun. Mike Grimes for Ward 6, Etobicoke -Lake Shore, said it's
important for the community to help the police.

Like some Ward 6 residents, Grimes was concerned about the loss of a
sub-station in the area until he spoke to police brass who explained
the move will actually bring in more police than they had before. By
2005 police will have 50 officers with professional standards working
in the area plus another 250 attending a new million-dollar police
college set to be built by then.

Police are moving the 22 Division sub-station from the Islington-Evans
Aves. area to the Bloor St. main station to make way for the
professional standards offices.

The criminals involved in this latest shooting were so brazen, they
struck not far from where almost every 22 Division officer was out
looking for a missing 11-year-old, Duchak said, noting the child was
returned home safely.

It doesn't matter where the sub-station is, it's not going to change
the level of service the community is getting, he said.

"The sub-station is still in operation right now and it didn't make a
difference," Grimes said. "The men and women of the Toronto police are
doing a great job."