A 19-year-old man is dead after he was shot by a Toronto police officer in Mississauga early Thursday morning, the province’s police watchdog says.
The shooting occurred on Delfi Road, near Council Ring Road and The Collegeway, at around 12:30 a.m.
At a news conference on Thursday morning, Monica Hudon, a spokesperson for the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), said Toronto police officers were pursuing a Mercedes that had been reported stolen the day before.
However, Toronto police later clarified that the driver was the subject of a person with a gun investigation and that the Mercedes was not stolen. The SIU has since issued a news release confirming what the Toronto police said.
Five unmarked Toronto police vehicles were involved in the investigation, Hudon said.
She added that there was an “interaction” and three of the unmarked cruisers were involved in a collision with the Mercedes.
At one point, an officer discharged their firearm at the vehicle, and the driver was struck, she said.
“The officer who discharged the firearm was standing outside on the roadway and shot into the Mercedes vehicle through the driver’s side,” said Hudon.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is unclear exactly how many shots were fired at the vehicle.
Three other occupants of the Mercedes, who were uninjured, were taken into custody, Hudon said. Police have not said what charges they are facing.
One of the officers involved in the pursuit sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
“The family of the deceased is currently being notified, and once that is done, I will be able to release the age to you,” she said.
The SIU noted that a post-mortem examination has been scheduled for Friday.
While there is no evidence that there was an exchange of gunfire, Hudon said two firearms were found near the Mercedes.
Four investigators, three forensic investigators, and one collision reconstructionist have been assigned to the case.
