Update: Drake issued a statement regarding the August 3 OVO Fest shootings to Noisey.
The last few days I have been in a moral bind. I am used to the fact that my life and the things I say to my fans are? closely watched. It’s tough in situations like this where there’s a tragedy and I consider the advice of my trusted advisors and counsel who worry that anything I might say could be misinterpreted
However, today I am choosing to follow my heart.
I am plagued and pained by the violence that continues to escalate in our city. I stare into the eyes of so many young people and I wish to see them all shine as bright as they possibly can in this lifetime. I encourage my generation to show as much value and gratitude as you can for the lives we have been gifted.
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My deepest condolences go out to the Navarro-Fenoy and Hibbert families for their loss of Ariela and Duvel. Along with them I send my condolences to all of the families that have lost loved ones to the senseless violence that has and continues to occur in our city.
Although Toronto is globally viewed as a major city, at the core we are still a small close-knit community, and it is our public responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of one another. We need each other to further our communities for generations to come.
I pray for better times and better understanding.
A man and woman have been killed in a shooting at Drake‘s OVO festival afterparty in Toronto, and three others have been hospitalized in critical condition. Billboard reports that the shooting occurred just before 3:30 am Tuesday morning at a nightclub called Muzik, which is near OVO fest’s location at Molson Amphitheatre.
Toronto Police Superintendent Frank Bergen, of 14 Division, reportedly told media outlets that “this is a sporadic shooting that did occur just before 3:30 this morning at 15 Saskatchewan. It’s the Muzik Nightclub. A well-run event with lots of police officers in and around the area, culminating on a large evening event that occurred over at the OVO Festival.”
Bergen added the following: “What occurred originally in the bar area had spilled out into the streets so south and north of this area we do have three separate crimes scenes. At this point we do know for certain that one or two [shootings] were in the nightclub and we believe the others were outside of that area. This is all unfolding now and we’re doing our investigation.”
The party was open to the public and was billed as the “official OVO fest after-party, hosted by Drake with music by Charlie B.”
Police think there are other victims and have asked anyone who needs assistance or who can offer new information to call Homicide, Crime Stoppers, or 14 Div. at 416 808 1400.
