News Release
SIU Investigating Shooting in Kitchener
Case Number: 17-OFI-042
Other News Releases Related to Case 17-OFI-042
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is examining the circumstances surrounding a shooting injury sustained by a 39-year-old man just after midnight in Kitchener.
Preliminary information suggests the following:
- Shortly after midnight on Thursday, March 2, 2017, police received a call about a car being driven erratically.
- An officer located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in the area of Lilac Street and Ottawa Street.
- There was an interaction between the officer and the 39-year-old driver of the vehicle. The officer discharged his firearm, and the man was struck in the torso. At some point during the interaction, the officer also deployed a conducted energy weapon.
- The man was taken to St. Mary’s hospital for treatment. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit in stable condition.
Six investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to this incident. At this time, one subject officer and three witness officers have been designated.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.
If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php
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