News Release

SIU Investigating Shooting Death of Woman in Hamilton

Case Number: 18-OFD-308   

Mississauga, ON (20 October, 2018) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the police-involved shooting of a 30-year-old woman today in Hamilton.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 1 a.m. on October 20, 2018, 911 received a call regarding a woman armed with a knife at a residence on King Street East, near Wellington Street.
  • Upon entering the residence, police became involved in an interaction with the woman, with one officer deploying a conducted energy weapon.
  • A firearm was then discharged by another officer, and the woman was struck.
  • The woman was transported to hospital where she was pronounced dead at 2:04 a.m.

At this time, six investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to this incident. One subject officer and two witness officers have been designated. The post-mortem is scheduled for tomorrow morning in Hamilton.

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

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