A violent home invasion in one of Toronto's most affluent neighborhoods has left a prominent real estate executive and his family hospitalized. David Morton, chief executive officer of MAC Group, his two daughters and his wife were attacked inside their gated residence on Hyde Park Circle in the Bridle Path area early Thursday morning, according to The Toronto Sun.
Toronto Police Inspector Kristy Smith described the incident as a targeted demand for valuables. "There was a violent interaction. There was a demand made for valuables from within the home – whether or not they escaped with anything is uncertain," Smith said, according to TMZ.com.
Three masked men entered the home through a rear door, and a struggle followed, The Toronto Sun reported. A source told that publication that one daughter was shot in the leg, the second daughter was shot in the arm, and Morton suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. The same source claimed that all four family members were struck with a hammer, though that detail has not been confirmed by authorities.
All four victims were taken to the hospital. Two are being treated for what police described as "life-altering injuries," while the remaining two suffered "non-life-threatening injuries."
The suspects fled the scene in an SUV, according to authorities. No arrests have been announced, and police have not released further descriptions of the three individuals sought in connection with the attack.
The Bridle Path is among the wealthiest enclaves in the Toronto area, known for large gated estates and a high concentration of prominent business figures. The invasion is likely to intensify scrutiny of security arrangements at private residences in the neighborhood and to renew questions about violent property crime in the city's upscale districts.
Investigators have not indicated whether the family was specifically targeted or whether the intruders knew the occupants of the home. The case remains under investigation, and further details are expected as Toronto Police continue their inquiry.