News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating After Officer Discharged Less-Lethal Firearm at Man in Thunder Bay

Case Number: 24-OFP-096   

Other News Releases Related to Case 24-OFP-096

SIU Concludes Investigation into Officer’s Less-Lethal Firearm Shots at Armed Man in Thunder Bay

Mississauga, ON (6 March, 2024) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a Thunder Bay Police Service officer discharged a less-lethal firearm at a 43-year-old man on Friday. He was not injured.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 5 p.m. on March 1, officers responded to a call about a man waving a gun in the area of a shopping complex on Fort William Road and Isabel Street. 
  • An officer located the man with what appeared to be a handgun. The officer shot and struck the man with an Anti-riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN). 
  • The man was arrested and taken to hospital as a precaution.
  • The man’s weapon was recovered and identified as an airsoft gun.
One subject official and five witness officials have been designated at this time.

The SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged a less-lethal weapon, which is classified as a firearm. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person.

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