Three people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after an incident involving police gunfire in Bancroft, Ont., early Saturday, and the province's Special Investigations Unit is investigating.

old l'amble road, bancroft

Ontario Provincial Police said they responded to a 911 call at a home on Old L'Amable Road in Bancroft at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

During their investigation they escorted a 25-year-old man outside of the home, at which point the man "picked up a weapon and struck one officer," according to an OPP media release. An SIU media release said the man was 24, not 25.

Shots were then fired by an OPP officer, striking the suspect multiple times and striking a 49-year-old man also living at the home once in the arm, the SIU said.

The injured officer, the suspect and another man who lived at the home were taken to Kingston General Hospital with "serious" injuries, said OPP spokeswoman Sgt. Kristine Rae.

Because of the SIU investigation, Rae couldn't say what the weapon used by the suspect was.

The SIU are called in to investigate cases of death, serious injury and alleged sexual assault involving police. Six investigators have been assigned to the case.

Any witnesses are asked to call the lead investigator at 1-416-641-1872, or 1-800-787-8529, ext. 1872.

Bancroft is about three hours west of Ottawa, south of Barry's Bay.