News Release

News Release

No Charges Against Niagara Officer in Shooting Death of Man

Case Number: 21-OFD-007   

Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OFD-007

SIU Investigating After Police Officer Fatally Shoots Man in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Update: SIU Releases Identity of Man Fatally Shot in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Mississauga, ON (22 December, 2021) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Niagara Regional Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the shooting death of Mr. Martin Gordyn, 27, in Niagara-on-the-Lake last January.

On January 5, 2021, Mr. Gordyn was in a stolen pickup truck when his vehicle was forced off the road and surrounded by police cruisers. Officers exited their vehicles and converged on the pickup. An officer discharged his firearm twice at Mr. Gordyn. He died from his wounds.

Given the circumstances that prevailed at the time, Director Martino was satisfied that the officer comported himself within the limits of the criminal law when he fired his weapon twice at Mr. Gordyn. Accordingly, the file has been closed. 

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1734


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

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES