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Four people injured in shooting at Toronto Raptors rally

Three people were taken into custody and two firearms were recovered, police said.
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Four people were injured and three suspects arrested after a shooting at a rally for the NBA champions Toronto Raptors, police said.

Image: Toronto Raptor Parade Shooting
First responders attend to an injured person after shots were fired during the Toronto Raptors NBA basketball championship victory celebration near Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on June 17, 2019.Tijana Martin / The Canadian Press via AP

Toronto Police Constable David Hopkinson told NBC News that the shooting occurred in the City Hall Square shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time in the vicinity of Bay and Albert streets, which intersect east of Nathan Phillips Square, just after the team arrived for a celebration rally following a parade.

Police said the injuries of the victims were not life-threatening.

Three people were taken into custody and two firearms were recovered. The celebration was allowed to continue and finished about 25 minutes later.

"We don't believe there is any threat to public safety," Hopkinson said.

Investigators are requesting that anyone who may have video footage of the incident send in copies to the police.

At least a million fans are believed to have packed downtown Toronto for the rally to celebrate the Raptor's first NBA championship.

Image: Toronto Raptor Parade Shooting
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, left to right, celebrates with Drake, Leonard's girlfriend Kishele Shipley and his mother Kim Robertson during the NBA basketball championship team's victory parade in Toronto on June 17, 2019.Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press via AP

“Toronto, more than a million of us flooded the streets today to celebrate our Raptors,” city councilman Joe Cressy tweeted. “People of all every age, every race, every religion — our City. As awful as the shooting was and terrifying for many in the crowd afterwards, don’t let it take away from our moment.”

The massive victory ceremony was briefly interrupted by the shooting. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Toronto’s mayor and the Raptors remained on stage during that time.

Some in the crowd were seen running from the area.