News Release

News Release

SIU Appealing for Witnesses to Discharge of Firearm by Police Officer at Vehicle in Oshawa

Case Number: 21-OFP-122   

Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OFP-122

SIU Investigating Discharge of Firearm by Police Officer in Oshawa
Durham Regional Police Service Officer Charged with Careless Use of a Firearm

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Mississauga, ON (27 April, 2021) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is appealing for witnesses to a shooting that occurred earlier this month in Oshawa. While three civilian witnesses were located and interviewed, video evidence obtained has led investigators to believe that there were other individuals in the parking lot who witnessed the shooting. The SIU is urging these individuals – and anyone else who may have information or video evidence – to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.

The preliminary information indicates:
  • At approximately 4:45 p.m. on April 16, 2021, Durham Regional Police Service officers were dispatched to the area of Harmony Road and Taunton Road for a report of a theft and of a suspicious person. 
  • A vehicle of interest was located in the Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot located at the northwest corner of the intersection, and one officer discharged his firearm at the vehicle multiple times.
  • The vehicle fled and officers followed. The 45-year-old female driver was eventually taken into custody in the area of Highway 427 and Dundas Street in Mississauga.

The woman was not struck by gunfire and did not sustain any serious injury. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019, which came into force on December 1, 2020, the discharge of a firearm by an officer falls within the jurisdiction of the SIU even in cases of no serious injury or death.

Three investigators and two forensic investigators are probing the circumstances surrounding this incident. At this time, one subject official and three witness officials have been designated.

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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