News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Less-Lethal Shotgun Discharge at Woman in Toronto

Case Number: 24-TFP-410   

Other News Releases Related to Case 24-TFP-410

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

Mississauga, ON (22 January, 2025) ---
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe a Toronto Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with firing a less-lethal shotgun at a 38-year-old woman in an apartment in Toronto. On September 25, 2024, the woman called police to report she had a knife and intended to harm herself. Officers went to her apartment near Eglinton Avenue West and Kipling Avenue where they attempted to negotiate with her while she was seen holding the knife at her neck and stomach. An officer fired a bean bag round at the woman, though it did not strike her. The woman dropped the knife and she was apprehended under the Mental Health Act.  She was not seriously injured.

Director Joseph Martino found the officer comported herself lawfully when she fired the less-lethal shotgun.

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