News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Fatal Police-Involved Shooting of Man with Axe in Sudbury

Case Number: 25-OFD-501   

Other News Releases Related to Case 25-OFD-501

SIU Investigating Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in Sudbury

Mississauga, ON (3 April, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Greater Sudbury Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man. On December 5, 2025, officers were dispatched to the area of Clinton Avenue and Queen Street after a man with a knife attempted to break into a home.

The man was located walking on Clinton Avenue and confronted by an officer. The man ignored commands to drop his weapon, swung an axe at a cruiser and raised it above his head when he was shot by an officer. He was pronounced deceased in hospital.

Director Martino found the evidence indicated the officer fired his gun to protect himself from a reasonably apprehended attack. Though the officer did not provide that evidence firsthand in an interview with the SIU, as was his legal right, he said as much in his notes of the incident when he described feeling his life was in danger as the man raised the axe as if to throw it in his direction.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): 

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