The 14th homicide in Toronto, Canada is that of Anthony Smith, 21 and it happened outside the lovely Loki Lounge. I have been to a lot of events over there before. Lisa Peezy has so much going on with her company events and there is NEVER a problem. Now gunfire has erupted after fights spilled out into the streets. This has gone on forever at the Guvernment nightclub as well in the past and even one murder INSIDE the club during my 5 years in Canada. I posted this murder as usual on my Toronto homicide page "WhatAboutOurSons" and I received a statement from Loki Lounge below. PLS READ!
Early Thursday morning there was a shooting on the northeast corner of King and Portland. Contrary to media reports the incident was not related to the event at Loki Lounge that evening. There were no altercations or incidents inside Loki prior to the shooting, and by all accounts, it was a quiet but enjoyable night with good music and good people. The venue is less than 2000 square feet and we had as many as 14 staff working that night, all of whom have given statements to police that there was no incident or altercation. At the time of the shooting the bar was closed with only staff inside. At approximately 2:40am Loki security staff heard shots fired across the road, in front of the Lee Valley hardware store. At considerable personal risk, security staff left the bar, attended to the victims, made a 911 call and stayed on scene to flag down police cruisers. We are proud of the actions of our staff and our thoughts and sympathies are with the friends and families of the victims.
Loki has hosted the longest running hip hop party in the city and has never experienced gun violence, or any other type of serious incident, in over 3 years. We enjoy the regular patronage of celebrities, athletes and music artists and work to foster and incubate the local and bourgeoning hip hop culture for which Toronto has earned international acclaim. We work closely with 14th Division and the AGCO to maintain a controlled and safe environment and are proactive and progressive in efforts to better our industry as attested to by our application to the Better Bar None program. Our patrons are searched thoroughly upon entrance by pat-down and wand resulting in a drug and weapon free establishment. We are small bar holding just over one hundred people at capacity, with more licensed security than any bar our size. Our entrance is brightly lit and our licensed security staff keep the sidewalk as clear as possible as part of a larger security plan. These efforts and this business model have been successful, as we have experienced far fewer incidents than other local venues.
We welcome new residential development and are sensitive to points of tension as the neighbourhood transitions from old industrial/commercial to new residential. We welcome dialogue and debate but firmly believe a diversified and multicultural nightlife is a critical element of a well socially integrated city and are deeply disappointed by some of the suggestive and racialized comments circulating in social media. We believe the shooting, as with other similar incidents throughout the city, is symptomatic of a larger gun and gang problem in Toronto. We urge our city councillors to protect residents and small businesses alike from gun violence, as a neighbourhood’s bars and restaurants play an integral role in the culture and enjoyment of our city.
- Loki Management
