News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Officer’s Firing of Less-Lethal Shotgun at Man in Toronto

Case Number: 25-TFP-332   

Mississauga, ON (24 December, 2025) ---
In the evening of August 26, 2025, an individual called police to complain about international students residing with him. He reported he was in possession of a knife and said that he wanted to stab one of the students. Toronto Police Services officers were dispatched to his apartment in the area of Yonge Street and Gerrard Street. Officers knocked on the door, and when the individual opened it, he was holding a knife to his neck. The man refused repeated commands to drop the knife, and instead threatened to harm himself. One officer deployed a conducted energy weapon, and another officer fired his less-lethal shotgun at the man multiple times. The man dropped to a knee and officers moved in to engage him physically. He was handcuffed and transported to hospital where he was treated for lacerations and a puncture wound. He was also subjected to psychiatric examination. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the shooting.

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

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

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES