Canadian police are seeking video and photos from people and businesses in Toronto where a gunman killed a woman and shot 13 other people.

The incident occurred in the Greektown neighbourhood and a video from one witness showed a man dressed in black firing three shots from the pavement into at least one shop or restaurant late Sunday.

Witnesses said they heard 20 to 30 shots.

Police Chief Mark Saunders said the shooting was not random and terrorism had not been ruled out.

Toronto police tweeted that the shooting occurred in the Danforth and Logan avenues area of Greektown, a busy residential area with restaurants and cafes.

Canada Toronto Shooting
Police chief Mark Saunders and Toronto mayor John Tory speak to the media following the attack (Christopher Katsarov/AP)

A woman was killed and a nine-year-old girl was critically wounded.

Mr Saunders said the gunman died after exchanging gunfire with police.

John Tulloch said he and his brother had just got out of their car when he heard about 20 to 30 gunshots.

“We just ran. We saw people starting to run so we just ran,” he said.

An army of police, paramedics and other emergency personnel soon descended on the scene, while area residents, some in pyjamas, emerged from their homes to see what was happening.

Toronto councillor Paula Fletcher told CP24 she heard that the gunman was emotionally disturbed.

Canada Toronto Shooting
Tactical police officers walk along Danforth Avenue (Frank Gunn/AP)

“It’s not gang related. It looks like someone who is very disturbed,” Ms Fletcher said.

Councillor Mary Fragedakis also said she heard the gunman was disturbed.

Ms Fletcher said for this to happen in an area where families gather for dinner is a tragedy.

Mass shootings are rare in Canada’s largest city.

“We were so use to living in a city where these things didn’t happen,” Toronto mayor John Tory said.

“But there are things that happen nowadays and they are just unspeakable.”

This past weekend Toronto police deployed dozens of additional officers to deal with a recent spike in gun violence in the city.

Mr Tory said the city has a gun problem.

“Guns are too readily available to too many people,” Mr Tory said.