Toronto police say ‘gun-for-hire’ networks responsible for July shooting at U.S. consulate

Toronto police say one of the criminal gun-for-hire networks in the Greater Toronto Area is responsible for the latest shooting at the U.S. consulate — just like the previous consulate shooting earlier this year.

Officers announced the arrest of a 15-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, and revealed new details about the investigation.

New video released by Toronto police shows the moment a gunman in a white Honda Accord opens fire on the U.S. consulate in the early hours of July 27.

From the passenger window, a flash can be seen and then two seconds later, another.

“Perhaps there were two shots, but at this point it looks like only one shot struck the building,” said Toronto Police Chief Supt. of Detective Operations Joe Matthews.

WATCH MORE: No injuries reported after U.S. consulate in Toronto shot at

No one was hurt.

Officers say they have arrested two people, one Wednesday and one this past Saturday: a 15-year-old boy who is facing 17 charges, and 19-year-old Xen-Ul-Abdeen Syed is facing 15 charges.

“We believe that these two individuals were offered payment to carry out this attack through encrypted messaging apps,” said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw.

But who is ordering and paying for the attacks carried out by these gun-for-hire networks, is not yet known.

Police say two people responsible for the March consulate shooting were also part of one of these networks.

WATCH MORE: Toronto police investigate second shooting this year at U.S. consulate

A Toronto police officer was killed last month in a raid connected to that consulate case.

Police have previously said many other shootings in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including one in Oakville, may be connected to the networks.

“Three days before the consulate shooting, the accused allegedly committed an arson in the area of Caledon,” said Matthews.

Detectives say on July 24, the two teens filled up a jerry can with gas at a station in Scarborough, before driving to a residential street in Caledon, and lighting a car in a driveway on fire.

No one was hurt in that incident either.

READ MORE: Two suspects, including a minor, charged in U.S. consulate shooting: Toronto police