‘We are heartbroken’: Piper Arms pub releases statement after 12 people injured in mass shooting at Scarborough pub

The Scarborough pub where 12 people were injured in a mass shooting a little over a week ago says it is “heartbroken” and co-operating with the police.

A statement signed by management of Piper Arms — Scarborough Town Centre — the first since the March 7 gun attack — and posted to Instagram says that “we are cooperating fully with authorities as they investigate, and we are relieved that no lives were lost.”

Police are still searching for the three masked gunmen who opened fire at the pub on its grand opening just after 10:30 p.m. on March 7. Seven patrons suffered injuries from the gunfire and another five were hurt by flying glass and debris. One of the shooters was using an assault rifle, according to police.

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Officers described the scene as “horrible” after reviewing security camera footage. “We’ve seen a lot of shootings over the years, a lot of video … these guys just looked at the crowd and opened fire,” Toronto police Supt. Paul MacIntyre said at the scene the day after the shooting.

Police have not released any details about the case since last weekend and have said officers are “working around the clock” to hold those responsible accountable.

“We are heartbroken over what happened at our Scarborough Town Centre location on what was supposed to be a special opening night for our team and the community. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we’re incredibly grateful to first responders and law enforcement for their quick response,” the Piper Arms statement reads.

Claims that the mass shooting was linked to ongoing violence in the GTA tow truck industry have circulated online, including a video posted the day before the attack that highlights the Piper Arms opening night advertising set to an audio track that references retribution and alleging the restaurant is affiliated with an “illegal tow union.” It’s unclear who created the video, which has since been deleted.

In mid-January, Toronto police announced the launch of dedicated team to address “the rise in criminality and violence linked to the tow truck industry.” They said that 70 per cent of the city’s shootings incidents up to that point in the year were related to the tow truck industry, along with 63 shooting incidents or firearm discharges last year, blaming “a small group of bad actors within the industry.”

A Toronto police spokesperson said on Saturday evening that they had no further information to offer about the case. Police have not released a description of the masked gunmen wanted in the attack.

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A police spokesperson told Star earlier this week that while the public’s desire for more information is understandable, “releasing certain details at this time could compromise our ability to gather evidence and locate those responsible.”

Requests for an interview sent to the Piper Arms management were not immediately returned.

With files from Abby O’Brien and Raju Mudhar.