Disturbance in Smithville sends 3 to hospital, SIU investigate police shooting
Man, 46, sustained several gunshot wounds, SIU says
One person has a "serious" injury and two others have "critical" injuries after a disturbance in Smithville, Ont. led to a police-involved shooting, Niagara police and Ontario's Special Investigations Unit say.
The two people in critical condition were found in a home by police after officers called to the scene had a confrontation with another person.
Niagara Regional Police say that around 12:20 p.m. Friday, officers from 8 District Grimsby responded to the scene in West Lincoln, located southeast of Hamilton, for a report of a disturbance.
The SIU said in a media release that police received a call from a woman saying two people were tied up in a basement.
On police's arrival to the home in the area of Anastasia Boulevard and Townline Road, a person of interest, a 46-year-old man, fled, the SIU said.
He was later located at the intersection of Anastasia Boulevard and Harvest Gate, and an officer opened fire, it added.
"That person was injured and required transportation to an out of area trauma centre by paramedics," said police.
The man sustained several gunshot wounds, the SIU said.
Police said officers then went into a nearby home and found two people with "critical" injuries — and those people have been transported to a hospital outside of the area.
No officers were injured, they say.
The SIU says it's currently investigating the police-involved shooting.
The SIU is an arms-length agency that investigates incidents involving police in which someone is killed, injured or accused of sexual assault.
Niagara police detectives will be investigating the incident for any criminality that falls outside the scope of the SIU, police say.
A photo shows a Taser on the ground between a pickup truck and police tactical robot in the residential area.
Police tape can also be seen across blocking off a portion of the street.
Police say the scene has been secured and there is no ongoing threat to pubic safety.
We are diligently working to provide information on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smithville?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smithville</a> incident. <a href="https://twitter.com/SIUOntario?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SIUOntario</a> is involved. More information to come shortly. There is NO ongoing threat to public safety regarding this incident.
—@PCPhilGavinSIU investigating police-involved shooting in Smithville. One person sustained serious injury. More information to come.
—@SIUOntario