There is a larger police presence around four Toronto schools this morning after a 27-year-old man walking the nearby streets with a compressed air rifle was killed Thursday by police.
Hundreds of students were forced to blockade after police were called to Maberley Crescent and Oxhorn Road in the Port Union neighborhood of Scarborough around 1pm to report a person carrying a rifle.
Officers said they confronted the man and that he was shot dead by police. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has been called in to investigate.
The SIU confirmed to CTV News Toronto on Thursday evening that a BB pistol was recovered at the scene, although it is unclear whether the man was holding the imitation firearm or shooting officers before police open fire.
“Whether the man was holding him or not, I’m not entirely sure at this time. But that’s going to be something that SIU investigators are going to look at,” said Kristy Denette, a spokeswoman for the police watchdog. province.
Police and investigators are at the scene of a shooting in Toronto on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Toronto police say a man has died after an interaction with officers during which a police pistol was fired. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Aaron Vincent Elkaim
Speaking about the incident in the following hours, Police Chief James Ramer stressed that there is no threat to public safety. However, he said police will increase patrols in the area.
“At the moment we don’t understand what was about to happen or what might have happened,” Ramer told a news conference.
“So I don’t want to speculate and suggest that it’s something similar to what happened in the United States,” he said in reference to the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday that left 21 dead, including 19 children. and two adults.
Video of the witness at the scene showed officers cordoning off a section of East Avenue, a few hundred yards from William G. Davis Public School, one of four schools in the area affected.
On the sidewalk was a body covered with an orange tarp.
Images captured by the CTV News Toronto helicopter after the incident appear to show the compressed air rifle lying on a stretch of grass.
The CTV News Toronto helicopter on Thursday captured footage of what appeared to be an air rifle lying on a piece of grass in Scarborough following an incident that forced the closure of four nearby schools.
Mayor John Tory said he spoke with Ramer after the situation and that he could not “imagine the fear that children, teachers and parents felt.”
“No one should have to feel that fear, and I’m very grateful that everyone at the school was able to get home safely tonight,” he said.
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Charlottetown Junior Public School and Centennial Road Junior Public School were blocked and safe, while Joseph Howe Senior Public School and Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute were blocked.
TDSB spokesman Ryan Bird said board schools regularly practice blocking exercises “specifically for this type of situation.”
“Because of these blocking exercises, when it really happens, students and staff generally know what to do. In this case, it’s obviously a worrying situation,” he said.
“THIS IS NOT A WORKER”
A student of William G. Davis at the time of the incident told CP24 that he was in his science class when the class received a message from the principal that they were going to close.
“This is not a sham, put yourself under your desks,” he recalled being told.
“I thought someone was trying to get into school, I was just telling myself, it’s probably the end,” he said.
All school restrictions were lifted at 3 p.m.
Police and investigators are at the scene of a shooting in Toronto on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Toronto police say a man has died after an interaction with officers during which a police pistol was fired. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Aaron Vincent Elkaim
The TDSB said social workers will be on site if any staff or students need support. Today all affected schools are open.
As the investigation unfolds, Ramer asks the public not to speculate on the reason in light of recent events south of the border.
“In the fullness of time, we will investigate all aspects of this and have a better understanding of what has happened,” Ramer said.
The 27-year-old man has not been identified by police.
With files by Chris Herhalt, Bryann Aguilar and Abby Neufeld