A man has died after being shot by police near an elementary school on Thursday afternoon, Toronto police said, prompting hundreds of children from nearby schools to be locked up.
Police were initially called to Maberley Crescent and Oxhorn Road to report a person carrying a rifle on the street around 1 p.m.
Paramedics were called to the corner of Lawrence Avenue East and Port Union Road at 1:24 p.m. for a reported shooting.
Police said an officer fired a gun at a suspect and beat the man at least once.
Video from the scene shows officers cordoning off a stretch of Port Union Road. An orange tarp was seen covering something on the sidewalk.
At a news conference Thursday evening, Toronto Police Chief James Ramer described the incident as “traumatic” for all involved.
“We certainly understand the trauma and how traumatic it must have been for staff, students and parents given the two recent events that have taken place in the United States,” he said.
“We will intensify patrols in the area and continue to work with our school and community partners and services will be available to those who need these services.”
A spokesman for the Toronto Police Association confirmed that two TPS officers were taken to hospital after the incident but were not injured. No additional injuries were reported.
Paramedics are on the scene after a shooting near a Scarborough school on Thursday.
The Toronto District School Board says Joseph Howe Senior Public School, Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate High School and William G Davis Junior Public School were initially blocked.
Charlottetown Public Schools and Centennial Road Public Schools were on hold and insured.
As of 3 p.m., all locks, detentions, and security had been lifted, with the exception of William G Davis Junior Public School, which remains on standby and safe, to “ensure an orderly dismissal.”
The Toronto Catholic District School Board confirmed that St. Paul’s Catholic School Brendan was also blocked, who got up shortly before 2:10 p.m.
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU), the agency in charge of investigating police circumstances that have resulted in death or serious injuries, has confirmed that they have invoked their warrant after Thursday’s incident.
With files by Chris Herhalt from CP24.
This is a developing story. More information to come …