News Release

No Basis to Charge Officers in Relation to Fatal Shooting of Man in Exeter

Case Number: 19-PFD-293   

Other News Releases Related to Case 19-PFD-293

SIU Investigating Fatal Police-involved Shooting in Exeter

Mississauga, ON (4 December, 2020) ---
On the evening of December 3, 2019, Ontario Provincial Police officers attended a residence in Exeter to assist firefighters who were trying to enter the home to put out a kitchen fire. A 44-year-old man, alone in the home, had armed himself with an axe and refused to open the door to allow the firefighters entry. When officers forced the door open using a battering ram, the man confronted them while wielding an axe and approaching in their direction. Two of the officers fired their guns at the man. The man was transported to hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot wounds. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s death.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.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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