Toronto police say they arrested 23 people after nearly 100 shots were fired outside a recording studio in Toronto’s west end Monday night – but no one was injured.

Officers were in the area of ​​Queen Street West and Sudbury Street around 11:20 p.m. for an unrelated investigation, Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue said at a news conference Tuesday morning. Police Chief Myron Demkiw said later Tuesday that they were conducting a bail compliance check.

A stolen car stopped in the area, Pogue said, and three people got out of the vehicle and opened fire on the recording studio and people gathered outside.

Pogue said the violence escalated into an exchange of gunfire between two groups.

During the gunfire, an unmarked police vehicle with officers on board was hit by bullets, she said.

“I want to emphasize how remarkable it is that in such an unstable and dangerous situation, no one was injured,” she said. “No bystanders, neither the individuals involved nor our officers.”

Demkiw told the city’s police committee he was grateful the officers were not injured.

“Our plainclothes officers found themselves in the middle of the shootout between these rival groups, their unmarked vehicle was hit several times,” he said, before emphasizing the extreme risk posed by the shootout.

“Shootings in our public spaces must be recognized for the harm they cause, not only to those directly involved, but also to bystanders and the general public.”

2 suspects pending, police say

Police surrounded the stolen vehicle after the three people who initially started shooting tried to flee, Pogue said.

One of them was arrested after being chased on foot, she said. The other two are still pending.

Officers then searched the area and found several firearms, likely left behind by the fleeing suspects, Pogue said. They also arrested several people inside the recording studio, as well as others who tried to flee.

Other guns were found in the studio, including on the roof and hidden in nearby trash cans, she said.

In total, police seized 16 firearms, including two assault rifles and several handguns, Pogue said.

She said the incident appeared to be very targeted and police did not believe there was a threat to the community.

The shooting shows “all the signs” of a gang-related conflict, but the investigation is ongoing, she said.

Pogue said police will provide more information about the charges in a news release.

Forensic identification specialists are still gathering evidence at the scene, she said.

Police chased men along GO train tracks: witness

Alyssa Wiebe, who lives in an apartment building on Sudbury Street, said she was in bed Monday night when she heard about 15 popping noises.

At first, she said she thought it was fireworks, but after coming out to her balcony, she realized they were gunshots.

Wiebe said he saw police chasing two men who were running along the GO train tracks. She said she saw police arrest one of the men.

“They were looking in the bushes near where they arrested him,” she said.

Special agents, Metrolinx workers, firefighters and an ambulance were on scene, she said.

Despite the shooting, Wiebe said she didn’t feel particularly unsafe.

“There are a lot of characters in the neighborhood but I never felt unsafe,” she said.

Mayor Olivia Chow said she spoke to Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw about the incident.

“I expressed my gratitude that his officers acted quickly and no one was injured,” she said Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact investigators or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.