News Release
SIU Concludes Brampton Shooting Investigation
Case Number: 06-OFD-069
Other News Releases Related to Case 06-OFD-069
SIU Investigates Fatal Shooting in Brampton
Man in Shooting Identified
The SIU investigation revealed that on that date, the PRPS was notified about the whereabouts of Ronald Smith, who had outstanding warrants for failing to appear and driving under suspension. As a result, two PRPS officers responded to an apartment at 25 Rambler Drive in Brampton. The officers arrived at about 11:24 p.m. and identified themselves to the woman who opened the door. They asked the woman if Mr. Smith was available to talk and were told he was not home. The police asked if they could enter to look for Mr. Smith. The woman allowed the officers to enter.
One officer stayed with the woman while the other officer walked about the apartment. When the officer asked about searching the bedrooms, the woman replied that another woman was asleep in a room. The officer knocked on the bedroom door and told the woman he was looking for Mr. Smith. The woman replied that she knew him but that he was not in the apartment. The officer continued on to the second bedroom and called out, "Police. Is there anyone in there?"
The officer opened the bedroom door and slowly entered. He checked the closet and then confronted Mr. Smith standing behind the bedroom door. Mr. Smith was brandishing a sword with both hands. The officer grabbed the bedroom door and swung it toward Mr. Smith, pinning him between the wall and the door.
The officer ran from the room, yelling that the man had a sword. The officer's partner yelled they were the police and ordered Mr. Smith to drop his weapon, but he did not do so. When the officer reached the living room, he turned around with his gun drawn. At that moment, the officer standing in the living room fired four shots at Mr. Smith, who was approximately eight to ten feet away from them. Mr. Smith fell to the floor. The officers secured the sword and administered first aid until assistance arrived.
Mr. Smith was pronounced dead at William Osler Health Centre - Peel Memorial at approximately 1:00 a.m. A post mortem examination conducted on April 19, 2006 determined that he was shot three times.
As part of the investigation, SIU investigators interviewed the two women who were inside the apartment as well as police witnesses. Forensic identification technicians measured and mapped the apartment and retrieved two Samurai swords, one with a 47 cm blade and the other with a 73 cm blade. The police firearm, cartridge cases and projectiles were retrieved and examined.
Director Cornish concluded that no criminal offence was committed by the subject officer in this case. The Director stated, "Officers of the PRPS went to execute an arrest warrant for Mr. Smith and when they did so, they were confronted by an armed Mr. Smith who advanced on the officers with a samurai sword. The officers were confronted with a very dangerous situation, in a confined area, in which they met the threat of deadly force with deadly force."
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