A 16-year-old boy has died in hospital after being shot by Toronto Police on Sunday night, according to Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The incident happened around 11 p.m. on April 20, when a Toronto Police Service officer stopped a red Infiniti sports car near Sheppard Avenue West and Bathurst Street for a Highway Traffic Act violation.
According to the SIU, an exchange of gunfire followed the stop, during which two officers discharged their weapons. The teen was hit and then transferred to hospital, where he died on Tuesday morning (April 22).
According to the Toronto Star, the vehicle was stopped because its front licence plate was missing. The teen, who has not yet been publicly identified, was one of six people in the car.
A post-mortem examination is currently being scheduled.
The Star also obtained body cam footage that reportedly shows one passenger pulling out a firearm and firing two shots at an officer. Both officers returned fire, and at least ten more shots were heard.
The clip then shows officers pulling the injured passenger from the vehicle, before performing chest compressions. He was then taken to the hospital.
Toronto Police has confirmed neither officer involved in the shooting suffered injuries.
Images from the scene showed several bullet holes in the windshield of a vehicle.
The SIU has launched an investigation and assigned five investigators and two forensic investigators to the case. Two officers have been designated as subject officials, while two others are listed as witness officials.
On Monday, SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette told reporters that investigators are gathering footage from bodycams and in-car cameras, and are in the process of conducting interviews.
Denette told the Toronto Star that Toronto Police said their officers were fired on first, but the SIU could not confirm as it is too early in the investigation.
The SIU is urging anyone with information, video, or photos of the incident to come forward. Tips can be shared with the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or submitted online through the SIU’s official appeal page.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
