News Release

SIU Investigating Police-Involved Shooting in Toronto

Case Number: 24-TFI-557   

Mississauga, ON (28 December, 2024) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a Toronto Police Service officer discharged their firearm and two other officers discharged less-lethal firearms during the arrest of a 56-year-old man this morning.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At about 7:40 a.m. on December 28, 2024, officers arrived at an apartment on Woolner Avenue, near Jane Street and St. Clair Avenue West. Police were called after the man stabbed an individual with a knife and threatened others with a staple gun. 
  • Officers located the man in the hallway. He approached officers with a staple gun.
  • One officer discharged a sock round and struck the man. Numerous conducted energy weapons were also deployed by officers.
  • The man barricaded himself in his apartment unit. One officer discharged a firearm. The man was not struck.
  • Emergency Task Force officers responded and attempted to negotiate with the man. After a time, officers entered his unit, and one officer discharged a less-lethal firearm. Officers also discharged conducted energy weapons at the man.
  • The man was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment of a serious injury.
  • No officers were injured.

Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. 

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

  • consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
  • depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
  • publicly report the results of its investigations

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES