Toronto police have arrested a third man in connection with a playground shooting in Scarborough that injured two young girls.

Police say they executed a search warrant on Friday morning at a home in the Eglinton Avenue and McCowan Road area. Police say their search uncovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, various rounds of ammunition and quantities of crack cocaine and heroin.

Clinton McDonald. 26, of Toronto is facing a total of 16 charges including unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Police say they believe McDonald was the intended target of the playground shooting.

There were about 11 children playing in a park at Alton Towers Circle, near McCowan Road and McNicoll Avenue on June 14 when as many as 10 shots were fired into the playground, striking two sisters.

The two injured girls underwent several surgeries. The five-year-old was shot in her abdomen while the nine-year-old was shot above her ankle. Their mother says the girls are still traumatized by the experience.

About a month after the playground incident, the girls’ mother spoke out, calling for better education and community support programs, not increased police presence, to curb gun violence in the city.

Toronto must reduce the number of young people who turn to crime, Stacey King said at a meeting of the city’s board of health where ongoing research into community violence was being discussed.

She suggested children should be taught about issues that lie at the root of gun violence, including bullying and mental health.

Tarrick Rhoden, 23, of no fixed address, is facing multiple charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault, and multiple firearm offences.

Sheldon Eriya, 21, of Markham was arrested days after the shooting and is facing seven charges including two counts of attempted murder. His lawyer has said he will plead not guilty to the charges.

A Canada-wide warrant remains in place for T’Quan Robertson, 23, of Toronto. He is wanted for attempted murder, aggravated assault and discharging a firearm with intent.



Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report