News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into OPP Officer’s Discharge of Firearm in Bourget

Case Number: 23-PFP-181   

Mississauga, ON (15 September, 2023) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence in connection with shooting a firearm in the direction of a man in May 2023. The shooting on May 11 was part of a series of events at a home in Bourget, where one officer was fatally shot by the man. The subject official was grievously wounded by the man. A third officer was also struck by a bullet fired by the man. The 39-year-old man was not struck by gunfire.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as 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