Toronto's busy Gardiner Expressway was thrown into chaos on Friday morning after a vehicle was hit by gunfire, prompting police to temporarily shut down all westbound lanes. The incident, which is under active investigation, caused significant traffic disruptions during the morning commute.
Shooting Incident Halts Traffic
The situation unfolded on December 5, 2025. According to initial reports, a vehicle traveling on the Gardiner Expressway was struck by gunfire. In response, Toronto police made the decision to close all westbound lanes of the major arterial route to allow for a safe and thorough investigation of the scene. The exact time of the shooting was reported around the late morning hours.
CP24 reporter Lisa Morales provided live updates from the scene as authorities worked to secure the area. Details about the condition of any occupants in the targeted vehicle or a potential motive for the shooting were not immediately released by officials. The closure created a major bottleneck for drivers heading out of the downtown core.
Police Investigation and Commuter Impact
The closure of the westbound Gardiner Expressway lanes had an immediate and severe impact on Toronto's traffic flow. Commuters were forced to seek alternate routes, leading to congestion on parallel streets and the Lake Shore Boulevard corridor. Police advised the public to avoid the area entirely if possible.
Investigators from the Toronto Police Service remained on scene to collect evidence, including shell casings, and to canvas for any potential witnesses or surveillance footage. The nature of the incident—a shooting on a major highway in broad daylight—raised significant public safety concerns.
Ongoing Updates and Public Safety
As of the last update at 11:06 AM EST, following the initial publication at 10:29 AM EST, the lanes remained closed. Police have not indicated how long the thorough investigation and cleanup might take. Such incidents underscore the challenges of maintaining security on critical urban infrastructure.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting or who may have dashcam footage from the Gardiner Expressway around the time of the incident to contact Toronto police immediately. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as they become available.
