'Tragic event:' York police chief comments on officer-involved shooting that left teen dead
York Region’s top cop has broken his silence on a police-involved shooting in Aurora that left a 17-year-old boy dead, calling it a “tragic event” which “brings to the forefront the increasing levels of violence” faced by frontline officers.
The incident happened outside a residence on Downey Circle, located near St. John’s Sideroad and Bayview Avenue, shortly before 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Special Investigation Unit has previously indicated that officers attended the area after receiving a call from an individual reporting a break-and-enter in progress at a home.
The teen was killed following an exchange of gunfire with four responding officers, the SIU said.
The Toronto Star has reported that the shooting took place outside the teen’s home and that he had been inside eating dinner shortly before the incident.
CTV News has not independently confirmed that detail, which was relayed to the newspaper by the teen’s mother.
“The October 30 shooting brings to the forefront the increasing levels of violence experienced by our frontline members while they work diligently to maintain order and public safety,” MacSween said in a statement issued Friday. “Protecting our communities and our officers is a responsibility I take very seriously. I stand with our members and will do everything I can to ensure they are supported throughout these events.”
The SIU has said that one officer sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment following the shooting.
The teen, meanwhile, was struck multiple times and subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.
In his statement, MacSween did not elaborate on the specific circumstances that led up to the shooting.
But he called the incident a “tragic event and one more example of the challenges our officers face each and every day.”
“Every day, York Regional Police officers are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. They are responding to hundreds of calls and consistently demonstrating professionalism, support and courtesy for the public. However, the environment for our officers has changed and has become increasingly dangerous,” he said. “In the past five years there have been 952 incidents where officers were the victim of an assault. This year alone, 116 officers have been attacked and assaulted. 13 of these incidents involved a weapon. I call on all stakeholders in the justice sector to do their part to ensure our communities and our officers are protected and remain safe. Everyone has a role to play.”
It is somewhat rare for police to comment on investigations that are under investigation by the SIU.
MacSween’s statement, it should be noted, does not speak directly to the actions of his officer or the teen, beyond the details already shared by the SIU.
The SIU has designated four subject officers as part of its ongoing investigation.
The teen has not been publicly identified by the SIU.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than half of human trafficking incidents in Canada remain unsolved
More than half of human trafficking incidents remained unsolved in Canada by police as the number of incidents increased over the past decade, according to new data released Friday.
Human remains found in Markham, Ont. in 1980 belonged to prison escapee: police
More than 44 years after human remains were found in a rural area of Markham, Ont., police are revealing that the deceased was an inmate who had escaped prison just a month before his body was found.
WATCH 'It's mind-boggling': Drought reveals U.S. town submerged in the 1940s
Hundreds of people are flocking to see a rare site in Pennsylvania: remnants of a historic town that is usually underwater.
Manitoba RCMP identify infant human remains, asking public for help with investigation
Manitoba RCMP are looking for more information after the remains of an infant were identified.
Those typing monkeys will never produce Shakespeare's works, mathematicians say
Talented though they may be, monkeys will never type out the complete works of William Shakespeare, or even a short book, a new study suggests.
Auto theft probe leads to arrest of 59 suspects, recovery of more than 300 stolen vehicles: Toronto police
Toronto police say 59 suspects are facing a total of 300 charges in connection with an auto theft and re-vinning probe.
'I couldn't stay home': Canadian with no prior military training joins Ukrainian forces
In the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Adam Oake, a Canadian with no prior military training, sold all of his Toronto Maple Leafs memorabilia to buy a plane ticket.
Children's doctors reporting unusual increase in walking pneumonia cases in Canada
Children's hospitals across the country are seeing an unusual increase in the number of serious and more complicated cases of walking pneumonia affecting much younger patients, according to medical experts.
Video falsely depicting voter fraud in Georgia linked to 'Russian influence actors,' U.S. officials say
A video that purports to show election fraud in Georgia by a man who claims to be from Haiti is fake and the work of "Russian influence actors," U.S. intelligence officials said Friday.