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Police are searching for suspects after a Canadian real estate executive and his two daughters were shot and his wife was attacked with a hammer during an early-morning home invasion in an affluent Toronto neighbourhood.
Derek Morton, chief executive of “Mac Group”, confirmed the attack in a statement, saying: “No family should ever have to experience this.” He said his family was reeling from the trauma of something horrific happening in the place where people should feel safest: their home.
The suspects demanded valuables before assaulting the family and fleeing in a car, Toronto Police said. Authorities have not identified them.
The invasion took place in Bridle Path, one of Canada’s wealthiest neighbourhoods, where music stars Drake and Celine Dion have lived. The area is known for large mansions behind high walls and iron gates, with hired security often seen patrolling.
Police said the suspects entered through a rear door at about 03:44 EST (07:00 GMT) on Thursday. They confronted the family and fired multiple shots, wounding the father and his two daughters, before hitting the wife on the head with a hammer.
“Three masked individuals forcibly entered our residence, armed with handguns and a hammer,” Morton said in a statement on Friday. “During the attack, three members of our family were shot and are currently recovering in hospital. All four members of our family were also attacked with a hammer, leaving everyone injured and requiring emergency medical attention.”
Morton did not name his family members. Media reports identified his two adult daughters as Cristina and Maggie, and his wife as Doriana Zohil-Morton.
Police said two of the victims remain in hospital. They did not identify the victims, but gave their ages as 75, 64, 28 and 26. The three suspects are believed to be men in their 20s.
Police believe the family was targeted solely because they lived in an affluent area. “Typically, in an affluent neighbourhood comes nice things – and there’s always people out there that want to acquire nice things,” Toronto Police Service Inspector Kristy Smith told reporters.
Smith said investigators do not yet know whether the suspects took anything from the home. Police are working to recover bullet casings that could help identify them.
Police figures show home invasions are increasing in Toronto, and some residents say they are upgrading their home security.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who was recently elected to a second term, said she was “deeply troubled” by the invasion. “This attack has understandably shaken the neighbourhood and many residents across Toronto,” she wrote on “X”. “This violence is not acceptable in our city. People must be safe in their own homes.”
Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre described the incident as “horrific” in a separate post on “X”. “These criminals must be apprehended and held accountable for their actions before the justice system,” he said.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said Bridle Path residents should expect increased police patrols over the coming days. “We also continue to make strategic decisions and dedicate additional resources to address this concerning trend of home invasions and to keep our communities safe,” he said.
