News Release

News Release

SIU Finds No Basis to Proceed with Criminal Charges in Relation to Shooting Death of Ejaz Choudry

Case Number: 20-OFD-144   

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Update: SIU Continues Investigation into Malton Fatal Police-Involved Shooting
July 23 Update: SIU Completes Fieldwork in Relation to Malton Fatal Police-Involved Shooting; Unit Awaiting Receipt of Additional Information

Mississauga, ON (6 April, 2021) ---
On June 20, 2020, Peel Regional Police (PRP) officers attended an apartment building in Malton to assist paramedics with 62-year-old Ejaz Choudry, who was in mental distress. Mr. Choudry armed himself with a large kitchen knife and locked himself inside his apartment. Officers attempted to negotiate with Mr. Choudry, but Mr. Choudry eventually stopped responding. Concerned that Mr. Choudry required immediate medical assistance, three members of the PRP’s Tactical Response Unit forcibly breached Mr. Choudry’s apartment through the door of his second-floor balcony. Thereafter, the uncontradicted evidence establishes that Mr. Choudry moved towards the officers while holding a large kitchen knife. After attempts to stop Mr. Choudry with a CEW and a firearm that fired rubber bullets were unsuccessful, an officer fatally shot Mr. Choudry. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there is no basis to proceed with criminal charges in this case notwithstanding Mr. Choudry’s tragic 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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