News Release
SIU Investigating Death of Man, Serious Injury of Bystander in Exchange of Gunfire Involving OPP Officers in Timiskaming District
Case Number: 24-PFD-109
Witness Assistance
- At approximately 5 p.m. on March 7, OPP officers in Kirkland Lake conducted a traffic stop involving two men and attempted to arrest them for drug-related offences. The driver fled.
- Police attempted to stop the fleeing vehicle in the area of Highway 11 and Portage Bay Road, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
- One of the occupants from the fleeing vehicle was located deceased.
- The other occupant of the vehicle fled the scene on foot. He was located later by police and arrested. The man was not injured.
- A male bystander, a resident of the area who was not involved, was seriously injured and remains in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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