Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has found that three Peel police officers acted lawfully in the shooting death of a 44-year-old man in late February after they responded to a domestic disturbance call in Mississauga.
The police arrived at the scene around 12:30 a. m. on February 28, following a 911 call from a woman who reported that her husband was going to “harm her and her children,” as stated by the SIU in a report released Friday.
In several follow-up calls over about ten minutes, she also told police that her husband had guns and was experiencing a “distressed mental state.”
When officers got there, they found the man and chased him near Erin Mills Parkway and Dundas Street W. During their pursuit, officers used a taser but it failed to subdue him. Soon after, he fired “at least one shot” towards the officers, according to the report.
A series of gunfire exchanges occurred between the man and the police until he collapsed on the ground, as noted in the report. Officers discovered him unresponsive and tried CPR. He was declared dead shortly after 1 a. m.
A handgun was found beside him, as mentioned in the report. Another handgun that he had thrown away during his flight from police was also recovered.
Police previously informed CBC that the man had prior interactions with law enforcement and did not have a license for firearms.
The SIU report indicated that an autopsy revealed multiple gunshot wounds, with death resulting from a gunshot wound to his head.
WATCH | A look from the scene on the day of the incident:
Man dead in police-involved shooting in Mississauga: Peel police
The Special Investigations Unit is leading an inquiry into this fatal encounter involving police in Mississauga where an adult male lost his life due to gunfire from a Peel Regional Police officer near Fifth Line and Dundas St. W. early Saturday morning.
SIU Director Deems Force Justifiable
Saying his decision out loud, SIU director Joseph Martino stated that the involved officers “were at all times engaged in the lawful exercise of their duty” and their use of firearm “constituted reasonable force.”
He explained that because it was believed that the man possessed several firearms, “officers were duty bound to do what they could” to apprehend him as quickly as possible.
“One cannot fault the subject officials for choosing to meet an immediate risk of death with a resort to lethal force of their own,” said Martino’s decision.
During this investigation, only one out of three officers agreed to be interviewed and provide notes to SIU. The other two declined their legal right not to participate according to reports. Many other officers present at the scene along with eyewitnesses were also questioned.
The SIU operates independently and investigates any actions taken by police officers involved in incidents resulting in death or serious injury or involving firearm discharges or sexual assault allegations.
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