Adrian Johnston, 14, was shot in a hydro right of way in Toronto's west end on Monday. (CBC)

Toronto police are promising residents of a west-end neighbourhood that there will be a strong presence on their streets following four recent homicides.

The latest victim was Adrian Johnston, 14, who was shot and killed in a field near the intersection of Scarlett Road and St. Clair Avenue West at about 5:30 Monday afternoon.

Toronto police Chief Bill Blair says he is redirecting 75 additional officers to the area from units across the city. The officers will be in place through the summer.

"It's what we call a focused neighbourhood deployment," said Blair. "Last year our analysis told us that we had to be in 51 [division] and 31 [division]. This year our analysis — and it's been that way for several months — tells us we have to be in 12 division."

Blair acknowledged that police are monitoring a number of gangs in the area, but said the recent violence hasn't been entirely gang-related.

"There's some gang-involved violence, clearly that's the case. We've seen people that have been involved in gangs who have been the victim of gun [violence]. We've also seen people who aren't involved in gangs," said Blair.

Police have not made an arrest in the Johnston killing. They are looking for a man who fled from the crime scene wearing a hood and a bandana covering everything but his eyes.

Homicide detectives said they are unaware of a motive.

Eighteen people have been slain in Toronto this year, including Jarvis St. Remy, 18, who was shot on May 1, at a bus stop just a few blocks from where Johnston was killed.