SIU called in after man shot by Toronto police officer during North York stabbing call, 5 in hospital

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate after a Toronto police officer responding to a stabbing call in North York on Monday afternoon shot one person.

The incident happened at 19 Shoreham Ct., just east of Jane Street and south of Steeles Avenue West.

Police said they were called to that area just before 3:30 p.m. for reports of a person with a knife.

Six evidence markers and what appears to be a large knife were seen on the ground in a housing complex.

Police said officers at the scene found two victims with stab wounds. A victim was taken to the hospital, they added.

In a post on X, investigators said they also located a male who was allegedly armed with an edged weapon. That suspect was subsequently shot by an officer. He has also been transported to the hospital.

Police said two officers also sustained minor injuries in the incident.

Toronto paramedics later told CP24 they transported five patients to the hospital.

They include a man who was shot by the police in serious, possibly life-threatening condition as well as two stabbing victims: a man with serious, possibly life threatening injuries and a woman with non-life threatening injuries.

Paramedics said they also transported two police officers to the hospital with minor injuries.

SIU investigating ‘police-involved shooting’

In an email to CTV News Toronto, the SIU confirmed it is investigating a “police-involved shooting” involving Toronto Police Service.

“One person was seriously injured and is in hospital,” a spokesperson wrote.

The civilian agency later issued a news release, which indicated that preliminary information suggeststhat at about 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 22, officers from Toronto Police Service responded to an address on Shoreham Court, near Shoreham Drive and Jane Street, “after being made aware that an individual had stabbed two family members.”

The SIU said sortly after police arrived on scene there was an interaction with a male “person of interest.”

One officer discharged his firearm and this 24-year-old man was struck. He was taken to hospital for treatment, it said.

Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to this case. A subject official and two witness officials have also been designated.

The SIU, which is called in to investigate when police are involved in an incident that results in death, serious injury, sexual assault, and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person, 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.

Police association president speaks out

Clayton Campbell, president of the Toronto Police Association, spoke with the media near the scene on Monday night.

He said the “last thing” one of his 7,600 members wants to do is use their firearm.

“They’re only going to use it to protect themselves or protect somebody else. … The trauma that these officers suffer, especially the ones that have to discharge their firearm, they’ll live with for the rest of their lives when they have to use force and potentially take someone’s life,” Campbell said, underlining at this point the SIU is undertaking an independent investigation into the circumstances of what occurred on Dec. 22. in North York.

“I think it’s always a reminder that while we’re at home, these great, brave members are out there responding to calls people with knives and firearms. We’re seeing crime down this year, which is a great thing in the city and I hope it continues but they’re out there every day keeping us safe, and it’s important to remember that they’re out here putting themselves in harm way to protect others.”

Campbell added that the officers who were injued on Monday sustained “minor cuts.”

With files from CP24’s Beatrice Vaisman and CTV News Toronto’s Beth Macdonell