A shooting near the Toronto Raptors championship celebration has left a dark mark on what was meant to be a jubilant party for thousands of fans.
Shots rang out near Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto around 4 p.m. on Monday. Videos from the scene show the massive crowds scrambling to safety.
that four people had been shot, while several other attendees were injured after being trampled. Officers arrested three people in connection with two separate incidents.
鈥淭he most important thing was that with all the resources that were here, the apprehensions were done incredibly quickly after the incident itself,鈥� Saunders said.
The celebrations continued despite the shooting, with Raptors announcer Matt Devlin urging the crowd to stay calm.
Prior to the shooting, massive crowds flooded downtown Toronto to celebrate the NBA champions as and shut down a number of downtown subway stations due to overcrowding.
On a couple of occasions, officials had to order people climbing high arches over the square to get down, adding that the Raptors would not make an appearance if they didn鈥檛.
Once the players arrived in Nathan Phillips Square, they were introduced one by one to massive cheers as they tossed souvenirs out to fans.
鈥淭his thing is really special because of you people,鈥� said Raptors head coach Nick Nurse told the crowd of thousands. 鈥淚鈥檝e never seen anything like the parade and I鈥檓 not sure I ever will again. That was really something.鈥�
Kyle Lowry, largely considered the heart and soul of the Raptors, walked onto the main stage holding the Larry O鈥橞rien trophy while wearing a vintage team jersey.
鈥淲e fought every day, we practiced hard, we worked hard and we just kept our faith,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are now world champs together.鈥�
Before the on-stage celebrations, a parade from the OVO Centre, the Raptors鈥� practice facility, to the city square was an hour behind schedule because so many people jammed the Princes鈥� Gate at Exhibition Stadium that the buses carrying the players got stuck.
Eventually, the 16 players rode in on five open-air double-decker buses, waving the Larry O鈥橞rien Championship trophy in the air, smoking cigars and spraying the crowds with champagne.
It had been predicted that as many as two million people would take in the historic celebration of the Raptors鈥� first league championship. Overhead views showed a sea of humanity jamming streets, off-ramps, balconies and rooftops. Construction workers were spotted packing several storeys of scaffolding.
Team president Masai Ujiri, the man credited with putting this winning team together, seemed overwhelmed by the exuberant crowds as he sat atop a convertible on the parade route alongside his family.
鈥淭his is awesome. It鈥檚 unbelievable to see so many people,鈥� he said, proudly wearing a Got 鈥楨m championship T-shirt. 鈥淲e said we鈥檇 win in Toronto. We鈥檝e won in Toronto and we will continue to win in Toronto.鈥�
The massive crowds showered love on the entire Raptors squad, but especially on NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who becomes a free agent June 30. There has been tremendous speculation about whether Leonard will re-sign with Toronto.
Leonard was traded to the Raptors last summer in a blockbuster move with the San Antonio Spurs.
鈥淭hank you all for welcoming me here-- after the trade -- with open arms,鈥� Leonard told the fans. 鈥淚t made my experience that much better. This group of guys let me do what I do on the floor. Coach Nick let me do what I do and we鈥檝e got a championship.鈥�
Leonard, who turns 28 on June 29, is a native of Los Angeles and has been repeatedly in trade rumours linked to his hometown Clippers. He has relentlessly fended off questions about his intentions as a free agent, saying he was focused on winning a championship.
Under NBA rules, the Raptors can offer more money and a longer term than other teams. Toronto can sign Leonard to a five-year, US$190-million deal, about $50 million more than he could make on a four-year deal with another squad.
Danny Green, who was also sent to Toronto in the Leonard trade, thanked the fans and his teammates for being patient with him during some postseason struggles.
鈥淚 really appreciate you guys embracing me with open arms as the other guy in the trade and making me feel at home and allowing me to enjoy this ride and win a championship,鈥� he said.
Raptors guard Fred VanVleet told the crowd to embrace the moment, in part because of the team鈥檚 playoff failures in the past.
鈥淭his is a very special moment, not only for us as an organization, but for the city, the country of Canada and me personally,鈥� he said.
As the players celebrated on the stage, the thousands of fans watching the party seemed equally excited as 鈥淟et鈥檚 go Raptors鈥� and 鈥淲e the North鈥� chants are rippling through the jubilant crowds.
One long-time fan was wearing a homemade Raptors helmet, complete with bared teeth.
鈥淲hen the Raptors had their home opener on Halloween many years ago I decided to make this,鈥� said Mark, who stood outside Exhibition Place, waving a giant championship flag. 鈥淲e would always say it鈥檚 game day and now we can finally say it鈥檚 parade day, which is fantastic.鈥�
Another fan, wearing a vintage purple jersey, says it鈥檚 a special time.
鈥淗onestly, I teared up when they won. It was the time of our life and we鈥檙e here. We made history, baby.鈥�
The parade included Raptors鈥� global ambassador and rapper Drake, who flew back from a team celebration in Las Vegas with some of the players on a private plane.
During his address to the crowd, Drake called his time with the microphone 鈥渙ne of the most important鈥� on-stage moments in his life, before calling Toronto 鈥渢he greatest city in the world.鈥�
鈥淭his is a talented, relentless group of guys that put it all on the line and sacrificed everything for each and every one of you this year,鈥� Drake said of the Raptors.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford were also on hand for the celebration.
鈥淭his was an incredible victory for the Raptors, but for the fans as well, you stood behind those Raptors every day,鈥� Trudeau said. 鈥淲in, loss, every single day you showed what Canada is made of.鈥�
Toronto Mayor John Tory has declared Monday 鈥淲e the North Day鈥� in the city and announced the site of Jurassic Park -- Bremner Boulevard from Lakeshore Avenue to York Street -- would be renamed 鈥淩aptors Way.鈥�
鈥淭his is just the first of many times we will celebrate here together our beloved Toronto Raptors,鈥� Tory said.
Tory also presented the key to the city to Leonard on behalf of each member of the Raptors.
鈥淓very door in this city is open to you and your teammates,鈥� Tory said. 鈥淚f you find one that doesn鈥檛 open, you call us and we鈥檒l look after it.鈥�
Ratings reports determined that 44 per cent of Canadians watched at least some of the decisive Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday when the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors. It鈥檚 the first time the Raptors have won it all and, with all due respect to the Toronto FC of the MLS, it鈥檚 the biggest win in Canadian sports since the Blue Jays took the World Series in 1993.
Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia, a fixture at every Raptors home game since the team launched in 1995, served as the honorary parade marshal.
With files from 麻豆影视 Channel and The Canadian Press
