A police officer shot and killed at a North York apartment building on Thursday morning was part of a team executing search warrants in relation to multiple shootings in the city, including one at the U.S. Consulate.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw confirmed the connection while speaking to reporters outside Sunnybrook Hospital on Thursday morning.
According to police, officers were conducting a search warrant at a building on Martha Eaton Way, in the area of Black Creek and Trethewey drives, at around 5:40 a.m. when Const. Marc Pinizzotto was shot. He died in hospital a short time later.
Key details:
- The officer who was killed, Const. Marc Pinizzotto, was an 18-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service.
- Demkiw said officers were conducting search warrants across this city in relation to a number of shootings, including one at the U.S. Consulate back in March.
- The suspect in the shooting is in hospital receiving emergency care.
- The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating.
Follow live updates here:
12:35 p.m. - Suspect fired 1 shot at officer
Speaking to reporters outside the building, Monica Hudon, a spokesperson for the SIU, said the search warrant was being executed on the fourth floor. Upon entry, a 19-year-old suspect fired one shot at Pinizzotto and a second officer proceeded to shoot the suspect multiple times. The suspect is currently in hospital in critical condition, Hudon said.
12:31 p.m. – Procession for Const. Pinizzotto
Toronto police say that there will be a procession escorting the body of Const. Pinizzotto from Sunnybrook hospital to the Office of the Chief Coroner beginning at 1 p.m. today.
Officials note there will be “intermittent road closures” along the route travelling north on Bayview Avenue to the 401, west along the 401, exiting at Keele Avenue to the Office of the Chief Coroner (25 Morton Shulman Avenue).
-Jermaine Wilson, CP24.com
11:30 a.m.- Slain officer was married father of 2
Sources tell CP24’s Beatrice Vaisman that Pinizzotto was a married father of twins, a boy and a girl, aged 14. Prior to the joining the Toronto Police Service, sources say, the constable was playing hockey professionally in Europe.
11:10 a.m. – GTA police chiefs share condolences
Several GTA police chiefs are sharing their condolences following the line-of-duty death of a Toronto police officer.
In a post on social media, Halton Police Chief Steve Tanner says that his service is mourning alongside the entire policing community today.
“Our thoughts are with colleagues who worked with him and shared a commitment to courage, professionalism, and public safety,” he said.
“The sacrifice made will not be forgotten. In this difficult time, we stand united with colleagues who worked with him and shared a commitment to courage, professionalism, and public safety.”
Durham Police Chief Peter Moreira also posted his condolences to social media. In the post, Moreira said that Durham police are grieving with the officer’s family, friends and colleagues.
“This has been an especially heavy week and serves as yet another tragic reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by those who serve our communities,” he said.
- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto
10:35 a.m. - ‘A sobering reminder of the sacrifices and risks faced by police’: Premier Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford extended his sympathies on behalf of the people of Ontario to the family, loved ones and fellow service members of Pinizzotto.
“Today is a sobering reminder of the sacrifices and risks faced by police officers across Ontario every day as they work to keep our province safe,” he wrote in a post on social media.
Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca
10:35 a.m.- Shooting suspect in hospital
Demkiw confirmed that a suspect in the shooting is in hospital and is currently receiving emergency care.
10:33 a.m.- ‘A very heavy sorrow’
“There is a very heavy sorrow in our community right now and these moments remind us of just the dangers that our members face each and every day,” Demkiw said.
“In the last two days we’ve seen tragic loss of life,” Demkiw said, referencing the death of OPP Const. Tarun Bali, who was killed in the line of duty in Hearst, Ont. on Tuesday.
10:30 a.m.- One suspect outstanding
Demkiw said there is one suspect outstanding in connection with the investigation relating to the search warrants that were executed across the city this morning. The suspect has been identified as 19-year-old Zara Jabbi.
“I urge you to turn yourself in,” Demkiw said.
10:30 a.m.- Mayor, police union president speaks
“Our members put their lives on the line everyday and it is a tragedy that Marc did not return home safely to his family,” Clayton Campbell, president of the Toronto Police Association, said.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she has known the mother of the slain officer for decades.
“Their grief is shared across this entire city,” Chow said.
10:28 a.m. – Search warrants connected to U.S. Consulate shooting
Speaking to reporters outside Sunnybrook Hospital on Thursday, Demkiw said the officer was a member of the Emergency Task Force and was shot while executing a search warrant in connection with a number of shootings, including one at the U.S. Consulate back in March.
10:25 a.m. – Officer identified
Police Chief Myron Demkiw has confirmed that 43-year-old Const. Marc Pinizzotto has died following the shooting this morning. He served as a member of the Toronto Police Service for 18 years, Demkiw said.
“This loss will have a profound impact on the Toronto police family, our service, our members, and all members of the larger policing family,” Demkiw said.
“No words can capture the impact on Marc’s family, who expected him to come home today.”
9:40 a.m. - Investigation will take ‘a very long time’
CP24 Crime Analyst Steve Ryan said Toronto police will be responsible for handling the investigation into the shooting of the officer while the SIU will investigate whether the officer was justified in discharging his firearm.
“It (the investigation) is going to take a very long time because the SIU are involved,” he said.
9:20 a.m.- ‘Devastating’
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish described the news of the shooting as “devastating.”
“My dad started a 37-year career as an officer in a station in the exact area where the shooting took place. He said knocking on a strange door was always a dangerous moment,” she wrote in a post on social media.
9 a.m. - Police chief will provide update
Police say Chief Myron Demkiw and Toronto Police Association President Clayton Campbell are heading to Sunnybrook Hospital and will provide an update to reporters shortly.
8:30 a.m.- Cruisers line street
Police cruisers have lined the street surrounding the building and several officers are on scene. Members of the forensic unit have also arrived.
8:15 a.m.- SIU investigating
The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is on scene and will be investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
8 a.m.- Resident calls incident ‘scary’
The exact location of the shooting is not clear but one woman told CP24 that she noticed blood on the floor in the lobby.
“It’s kind of scary because this is not the first time. Last year a little boy got shot here,” she told CP24.
Eight-year-old JahVai Roy was killed at the building when he was hit by a stray bullet while lying in bed with his mother in the early morning hours of Aug. 16.
