News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation in Allenford
Case Number: 05-PCD-096
Other News Releases Related to Case 05-PCD-096
SIU Identifies Man Who Died in London
SIU Investigates Death in Allenford
The SIU investigation determined that at about 4:40 p.m. on that date, OPP officers responded to reports of a distraught man who was seen entering his home with what appeared to be a rifle. OPP officers secured the area surrounding the home and made numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact Mr. Kunkel who was inside the home. At about 10:42 p.m., officers entered the home and found Mr. Kunkel suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
Five investigators were assigned to probe the circumstances surrounding Mr. Kunkel's death. Investigators interviewed witnesses who stated that a single gunshot was heard from inside the home even before the police arrived. The SIU also attended the post mortem examination which concluded that Mr. Kunkel died from a gunshot wound to the head and was consistent with being self-inflicted.
Based upon the information gathered to date, the Director of the SIU, James Cornish, has decided to terminate the investigation. He stated, "Given the fact that the police had no interaction with Mr. Kunkel, there is patently nothing further to investigate."
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