News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Fatal Police Shooting of Man in London
Case Number: 24-OFD-307
Other News Releases Related to Case 24-OFD-307
SIU Investigating After Officers Fatally Shoot Man in London
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe two London Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of an 18-year-old man. On July 16, 2024, police were called for a domestic violence investigation at a home on Wellesley Crescent.
Director Joseph Martino found the officers had every reason to believe that the man had attacked his girlfriend and another person with a knife. He rose to his feet with a bloodied knife in his right hand and advanced on the officers. Director Martino concluded that the man’s intention could not have been any clearer, as was the peril of grievous bodily harm or death the officers faced in that moment. On this record, it was clear that the officers acted reasonably when, having provided the man an opportunity to drop the knife and surrender peacefully, they fired as he neared to within three metres of their location.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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