News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman Shot with Less-Lethal Shotgun by Toronto Police

Case Number: 25-TFP-281   

Other News Releases Related to Case 25-TFP-281

SIU Investigating After Officer Discharges Less-Lethal Shotgun at Woman in Toronto

Mississauga, ON (14 November, 2025) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Toronto Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a 39-year-old woman shot with a less-lethal shotgun during her arrest. On July 17, 2025, officers were called to an apartment complex near Leslie Street and Queen Street East after an arborist working at the address reported he was assaulted and threatened by a woman.

Officers attempted to negotiate with the woman, who was located inside her apartment suite and threatening self-harm. After about 15 minutes, officers entered to apprehend her and located her with a knife. Two officers fired conducted energy weapons, with no effect. Another officer fired his less-lethal shotgun at her four times. She was struck by the sock rounds, dropped the knife and was handcuffed. The woman was transported to hospital and treated for a laceration to her left hand, caused by her knife.

Director Martino found the less-lethal firearm made sense in the circumstances and worked as intended, not causing serious injury and allowing officers an opportunity to safely take the woman into custody.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):

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