News Release

News Release

SIU Seeking Driver of Silver SUV, Potential Witness in Police-Involved Shooting Death of Man at Shopping Plaza in Markham on Jan. 21

Case Number: 22-OFD-020   

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Mississauga, ON (3 February, 2022) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is seeking the driver of a silver SUV who was in the shopping plaza parking lot at Fairburn Drive and Highway 7 on the night of Friday, January 21. The SIU believes this individual may have information in relation to the ongoing investigation involving the police-involved shooting death of a 35-year-old man.

The individual appears to have been wearing a dark hooded jacket with light-coloured pants and was holding a number of grocery bags. This person was driving the silver SUV at about 9:15 p.m.

Silver SUV in parking lot with snow.
The SIU is seeking the driver of this silver SUV to come forward as they may have information in relation to an ongoing investigation.

Person with hooded jacket walking on sidewalk in parking lot carrying two plastic bags, one in each hand.
The SIU is seeking this individual, who is also the driver of the silver SUV, to come forward as they may have information in relation to an ongoing investigation.

The SIU is also appealing to anyone else who may have been in the plaza at the time and has information to come forward. At the time of the incident, there were many vehicles, pedestrians and shoppers in the area.

As previously released by the SIU, preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 9:15 p.m. on January 21, 2021, a York Regional Police officer on patrol came upon a man outside a vehicle in a shopping plaza at Fairburn Drive and Highway 7 in Markham. There was an interaction and the man was shot.
  • He was taken to hospital where he died. 

Four investigators and two forensic investigators continue to investigate this case. One subject official and 12 witness officials have been designated at this time.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

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

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

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