Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating a police-involved shooting in Niagara Region’s Smithville in which one person was seriously injured and two others found with critical injuries.
According to the SIU, officers were called to the area of Anastasia Boulevard and Townline Road around 12:30 p.m. on Friday after receiving reports that two individuals were tied up in the basement of a residence.
When officers arrived at the residence, a 46-year-old man was seen fleeing the scene.
The man was located near Anastasia Boulevard and Harvest Gate. Officers had “an interaction” with the man and an officer discharged his firearm, the SIU said.
“The man was struck multiple times. He was transported to hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds,” the SIU said in a news release issued Friday evening.
Two other people were located inside a nearby residence with critical injuries. They were also transported to an out-of-area hospital, police said.
There is no ongoing threat to public safety, Niagara police said.
The SIU, which investigates incidents involving police where there has been a death, serious injury, or sexual assault allegations, has invoked its mandate.
The SIU has assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case.
Detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service will investigate the incident outside of the scope of the SIU.
Roads in the area were closed while authorities investigate the incident.
