News Release

Update: SIU Releases Name of Man in Grey County Firearm Death

Case Number: 10-PFD-079   

Mississauga (13 May, 2010) --- Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is continuing to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of 24-year-old Darren Burnside of Grey County. Mr. Burnside was fatally shot in the early morning hours of May 10, 2010 during an interaction with officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The OPP reported the following information to the SIU:
* At approximately 2:30 a.m. on this date, officers responded to a residence near West Back Line and Sideroad 80.
* There was an interaction with Mr. Burnside, and he was fatally shot.

The postmortem for Mr. Burnside took place on Tuesday, May 11 in London at University Hospital.

Five investigators and three forensic investigators are investigating this incident. Anyone who may have information regarding this case is asked to contact the Unit at 416-622-0748 or 1-800-787-8529.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

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