News Release
SIU Investigates Shooting in St. Thomas
Case Number: 06-OFI-016
Other News Releases Related to Case 06-OFI-016
On January 25, 2006, at about 12:50 a.m., St. Thomas Police Service officers responded to a shooting at a bar on Talbot Street. When officers arrived, they found a 40-year-old man suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.
The police identified 33-year-old Nelson Merrit as a suspect in the shooting and followed him to the area of Centre and Mill Streets. Officers were involved in an altercation with Mr. Merrit, resulting in shots being fired by police. Mr. Merrit was struck and taken to London Health Sciences Centre where he is being treated for gunshot injuries. His injuries are not considered to be life threatening.
SIU investigators are investigating the circumstances of the police shooting and have designated two subject and two witness officers from the St. Thomas Police Service. The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 416-622-2293 or 1-800-787-8529.
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