Three people suffering from what appeared to be wounds from a crossbow were pronounced dead Thursday in an incident that rocked an otherwise quiet east-end neighbourhood, Toronto police said.

An injured fourth person -- a 35-year-old man -- was taken into custody. The victims were found in the driveway of a bungalow by officers who responded to a stabbing report in the early afternoon.

"Indications were that (a) person had been stabbed -- their injuries were fairly serious," Const. David Hopkinson said. "When officers arrived, they found that person and two others suffering from injuries from what we believe to be a crossbow bolt."

Two of the injured were without vital signs and officers immediately began live-saving measures but the two men and a woman were pronounced dead a short time later.

A crossbow was found nearby on the floor. Police, who immediately swarmed the area, were not looking for any suspects, Hopkinson said.

Const. Jennifer Sidhu said other "things" found in the area that could have been used in the incident. Police blocked off streets and cordoned off an area around the home as they investigated. Numerous police and paramedic vehicles were at the scene and what appeared to be blood was visible from aerial footage on a bungalow's driveway on the tree-lined street.

Sadiya Haque, who lives nearby, said the incident scared her. Haque said she was surprised this happened in her usually tranquil neighbourhood, adding that most of the people who live on that street are seniors.

Dale Lounsbury, who sells crossbows at a sporting goods store in Waterloo, Ont., and owns one himself, said they can be dangerous due to their power and accuracy. But they are not suited to firing multiple shots in quick succession, he said. "Crossbows are not a rapid-fire instrument at all," Lounsbury said. "I can probably fire two shots a minute, maybe three."

Unlike guns, buying a crossbow does not require a licence.

In December 2010, a man fired a bolt into his father's back at a Toronto public library branch in another crossbow incident that captured the city's attention. In that case, Zhou Fang then crushed his 52-year-old father's skull with a hammer.

Fang was initially charged with first-degree murder but the prosecution accepted a plea of second-degree murder after considering that he was the victim of long-term abuse at the hands of his father.

He was sentenced to life in prison in 2012.