A Toronto neighbourhood was still struggling on Wednesday to come to terms with the deaths of two people gunned down at a community gathering this week, remembering the young victims as bright individuals who had much to give.

But even as the impact of Monday night’s violence sunk in, authorities in Toronto vowed to track down those responsible, focusing on gang activity in particular.

A spokesman for city police said that many gang members arrested in a string of arrests in 2005 were recently released from prison — an element which may factor into the recent increase in Toronto’s gun-related violence.

In the aftermath of the latest mass shooting, Mayor Rob Ford called for an outright ejection of gang members from the city.

“I want these people out of the city and I’m not going to stop. Not put them in jail and then come back and you can live in the city. No, I want them out of the city. Go somewhere else,” he said in an interview with local TV station CP24 on Wednesday.

“They should do some serious hard time and not come back here. Once you come out of jail, get out of the city,” he said.

Ford will be meeting with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Police Chief Bill Blair next week to discuss ways to prevent similar violent incidents from happening in the future.

The incident — which killed 14-year-old Shyanne Charles and 23-year-old Joshua Yasay, and also sent 23 people to hospital with gunshot wounds — has sparked fears of American-style gun wars.

Police have been pleading for witnesses to come forward, but have been met with a stony silence on many fronts.

For those who live in the community, which has become the epicentre of a conversation on gangs and guns, it was still time to mourn.

“I still don’t believe that many people were shot and now Shyanne’s (death) is sinking in to me,” said Jam Johnson, who runs the neighbourhood basketball association which Charles helped out with.

“She was a good individual; young, smart, intelligent, very mature for her age, helped out a lot with younger kids in the community, and everybody just liked her.”

Friends and family members of the young girl have created a memorial Facebook page called R.I.P. Shyanne Charles.

The teenager has been described as someone who enjoyed spending time with friends, was active in the community and hated violence.

But one community leader urged area residents to help the city’s law enforcers by providing them with any information they might have about the shooting.

“If they want to take back their communities they have to come out in mass and say look, we will not tolerate this, we will not stand for guns on our streets,” said Conservative Senator Reverend Don Meredith, who added that silence would only empower the criminals.

“Come forth, tell the police, give them the proper evidence that they need. ... They’re getting some leads but they still need some hard evidence.”