News Release
SIU Called for a Fatal Police-Involved Shooting following Hostage Situation at a Bank in York Region
Case Number: 17-OFD-363
Other News Releases Related to Case 17-OFD-363
Investigators with the province’s Special Investigations Unit are examining the circumstances surrounding a fatal police-involved shooting at a bank in Vaughan. The shooting followed a hostage situation.
Preliminary information indicates the following occurred:
- Just after 1:00 p.m. today, a man entered a bank at the corner of Dufferin Street and Major MacKenzie Drive in Vaughan.
- York Regional Police were notified that the man was inside the bank and that a number of persons were being held hostage.
- Police officers – including members of the Emergency Response Unit – arrived at the bank.
- Some time later, two police officers discharged their firearms.
- The 25-year-old man was struck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Eight investigators and four forensic investigators have been assigned to investigate this incident.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation 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