The Toronto Police Service is requesting assistance with a shooting investigation in the Bloor Street West and Christie Street area. On July 30 at approximately 9:00 a.m., a man shot two people during a fitness class in Christie Pits. One victim, who was nearby when the shooting occurred, was hit in the foot by a stray bullet. The other victim, identified as 35-year-old former gang leader Alejandro (Jose) Vivar, was leading the class.

In 2007 Vivar — whom police believed in 2003 to be the former leader of the Latinos Americanos or L.A. Boys, a rival gang of the Christie Boys — and nine other men were arrested on 16 counts of criminal weapon and drug charges. Vivar went on to spend almost 9 years in prison, where he earned his fitness instructor certification and wrote a first-person column entitled “Prison Diary” that was published in the Kingston Whig Standard.

At this time, however, police do not know if last month’s attack was gang related, but Vivar may end up back in prison due to public safety concerns once he is out of the hospital.

The shooter is described as black or having a dark complexion, aged 25 to 30, and 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall with a thin build. At the time of the attack, he had short cornrows hanging out of a black baseball cap, and was wearing a black hoodie with a white logo in the centre, black sweat pants with a light logo on the left front hip area, light-coloured running shoes, and dark sunglasses with gold trim on the arms.

Police caution that the shooter — considered armed and dangerous — should not be approached, and anyone seeing him should call 9-1-1. If you have any information about this or any other crime, please contact the TPS at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477.

—Summer Reid/Gleaner News