Toronto CEO and two daughters shot in Bridle Path home invasion, wife struck with hammer

Suspects forced their way into a home in Bridle Path, one of Toronto's wealthiest neighbourhoods, in the early morning and attacked the family inside with guns and a hammer. Derek Morton, chief executive of the real estate firm the Mac Group, and his two daughters were shot, while his wife was struck on the head with a hammer, Toronto Police said.

Police said the incident happened at around 03:44 EST on Thursday morning, when the suspects entered the property through a rear door. They demanded valuables from the family before assaulting them and fleeing in a car, police said. Authorities have not released the identities of the suspects.

In a statement on Friday, Derek Morton confirmed the attack, saying: 'No family should ever have to experience this.' He said his family was reeling from 'the trauma of experiencing something so horrific in the one place where everyone should feel safest: their own home'.

Morton said in the statement: 'Three masked individuals forcibly entered our residence, armed with handguns and a hammer. During the attack, three members of our family were shot and are currently recovering in hospital. All four members of our family were also attacked with a hammer, leaving everyone injured and requiring emergency medical attention.'

Police did not identify the victims, but listed their ages as 75, 64, 28 and 26. Media reports indicate that the two adult daughters who were shot are Cristina and Maggie, and that his wife Doriana Zohil-Morton was struck in the head with a hammer. Police said two of the victims remain in hospital.

Police believe the family was targeted solely because they lived in an affluent area. Inspector Kristy Smith of the Toronto Police Service told reporters: 'Typically, in an affluent neighbourhood comes nice things – and there's always people out there that want to acquire nice things.'

Smith added that police do not yet know whether the suspects took anything from the home and are working to recover bullet casings that could help identify them. Police said the three suspects are believed to be men in their 20s.

Bridle Path is one of Canada's wealthiest neighbourhoods, whose residents have included music stars Drake and Celine Dion. The area is known for its large mansions behind high walls and iron gates, with hired security often seen patrolling the area. Police figures show that home invasions are on the rise in Toronto, and some residents say they are taking steps to upgrade home security.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who was recently elected to a second term, said she was 'deeply troubled' by the home invasion. She wrote on X: 'This attack has understandably shaken the neighbourhood and many residents across Toronto. This violence is not acceptable in our city. People must be safe in their own homes.' Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre called it a 'horrific' incident in a separate post on X and said the criminals must be apprehended and held accountable before the justice system.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said that residents of Bridle Path should expect to see increased police patrols over the coming days. He said: 'We also continue to make strategic decisions and dedicate additional resources to address this concerning trend of home invasions and to keep our communities safe.'