News Release

SIU Identifies Man shot and Killed by Durham Regional Police

Case Number: 08-OFD-255   

Other News Releases Related to Case 08-OFD-255

SIU Investigates Fatal Shooting by the Durham Regional Police

TORONTO (30 November, 2008) --- The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has released the name of the man shot and killed by Durham Regional Police in a townhouse complex in Oshawa.

The deceased has been identified as 47-year-old Gino Petralia of Oshawa. He was fatally shot by a Durham Regional Police officer who, along with six other officers, responded to a 9-1-1 call at a unit in the townhouse complex on Glen Street just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. No officer involved in the confrontation was injured.

Prior to the shooting, officers found a 29-year-old man, a 26-year-old woman and two children in an adjacent unit; they had been stabbed. The dead woman has been identified by Durham Regional Police as 26-year-old Leslie Kelly; the 29-year-old man is now reported in serious condition after surgery at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. A three-year-old boy remains in critical condition at the Hospital for Sick Children; his five-year-old brother is in stable condition.

Three other children, who were attending a family event at the townhouse, were not hurt. They include three boys ages 11, 12 and 13.

An autopsy on the body of Mr. Petralia is scheduled for Tuesday in Toronto.

The SIU has designated seven police officers - one subject officer and six witness officers - for interviews as part of its probe into the circumstances and series of events surrounding the fatal shooting.

The SIU is appealing for anyone, who may have either witnessed this incident or has information about it, to contact the Unit at 416-622-1988 or 1-800-787-8529, extension 1988.

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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES