A 25-year-old man is dead and seven others injured after gunfire broke out in the Eaton Centre food court around 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

One of the victims is in life threatening condition and two are in critical condition — one of whom is a 13-year-old boy. Two females and a male were transported to hospital in serious condition with gunshot wounds. A 30-year old pregnant woman knocked over by a frenzied crowd went into labour and was taken to hospital. Another female was taken to hospital after her leg was grazed by a bullet.

The other victims are said to have injuries related to trampling and pushing, said Const. Victor Kwong.

Shots were fired in the food court and outside the Sport Chek store near the Dundas St. E. entrance at Yonge St. There was also a commotion at the Queen St. E. entrance.

Detectives from the homicide squad have yet to release a description of the suspect. They currently believe a lone shooter is responsible. The suspect may have rushed out of the mall with the panicked crowds.

It looks like a targeted shooting, Police Chief Bill Blair told reporters at 10 p.m., but the shooter opened fire in a congested area and bystanders were hit.

Blair said he was reminded of the killing of Jane Creba , a bystander caught in the middle of a gang shooting on Yonge St. on Boxing Day 2005.

“I am very sadly reminded of that event … one of the most tragic events that happened in the city of Toronto.”

Mayor Rob Ford arrived at the scene at 9:30 p.m. after learning of the incident.

“I’m just down here to offer my support to the police and we want to make sure that these people are apprehended and arrested, whoever committed this terrible crime.”

Ford, who was coaching a high-school football game earlier in the day, said he was upset the young boy visiting the mall with his family had been injured.

“It rips me apart. I was just at a football game with 13, 14-year-old boys. It pulls on my heartstrings when you hear something like that.

“I want to extend my condolences to the victim and their families. Our prayers are with them.”

Footage from several area stores and mall cameras are being reviewed by police, who are also interviewing dozens of witnesses who were in the busy mall at the time of the shooting.

Multiple police crews remain at the scene and a command post has been set up at Queen St. E. and Yonge St.

Nicholas Kalakonis, a 22-year-old who works with Volkswagen, was walking through the Eaton Centre near Sport Chek when he heard a "bang bang bang bang."

"I dropped to the ground so I wouldn't get hit," he said, "it didn't really work."

When he got up he knew he had been shot. "It felt like a really bad muscle cramp," he said. The bullet went through the back of his thigh, just under his left hip, and out the front.

Kalakonis called an ambulance and was taken to St. Mike's. "You could probably, if you wanted to, stick your finger (through the hole) in my leg," he said, sitting in a wheelchair for his recovery.

His family found out about the injury after Kalakonis posted a Facebook status update.

"Basically it said 'I've been shot’," said his father Chris Kalakonis. "It's unbelievable.”

Bobby Umar was grabbing a quick meal with his wife, three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter when the shooting occurred.

Umar’s wife had just taken their daughter to a nearby washroom when he heard four or five loud shots fired in rapid succession.

“I looked up and saw a guy, right in front of Szechuan (food stand) … I pretty much grabbed my son and dove under the table,” said Umar.

“He was asking what was that noise and what we were doing under the table and why was everyone running so fast. I said there was a bad man and he was being naughty.”

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After about a minute, Umar saw the suspect fleeing southbound toward Queen St. E.

Food court employees directed shoppers toward an emergency exit which leads to Bell Trinity Square.

Umar said his son was scared and disoriented by the rush of bodies.

“He was asking me questions all the way, and the more I didn’t answer the more scared he got.”

Umar’s wife was stuck inside the washroom. Security guards were instructing people to remain in the cubicle and to stand on top of the toilets.

They were eventually reunited at Yonge St. and Queen St. E.

“She broke down crying. It was emotionally tense for her, too.”

Erica Solmes, who works at the McDonald's on the north end of the Eaton Centre, was serving food when she says she heard at least 15 shots being fired just minutes after 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

"It was bang, bang, bang ... many shots quickly," she said. There were loud screams and dozens of people started running, many jumping over tables and chairs. "It was chaotic," said Solmes. She and others at McDonald's headed for the nearest exit.

Within moments, Solmes said a voice over the PA advised people to leave, even though some were stranded inside stores.

"The voice was shaky," said Solmes.

Constantinos Pagiatakis was sitting in the food court when he heard the shots. He saw a "black man with dreadlocks" limping, holding his leg. The man collapsed.

Pagiatakis heard more gunshots.

"Then I just ran," he said.

"Everyone was screaming, babies screaming too," said Hans Ademi.

Pagiatakis saw another woman who appeared to be shot above one knee. "Her blood was all over her jeans, there was dark blood everywhere, said Hussien Kedhumi.

With files from Raveena Aulakh and Stephanie Findlay

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