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Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit said Monday that two Windsor police officers fired their weapons during a downtown disturbance last Friday, leading to the death of a 57-year-old man.
According to the SIU, two knives were also involved in the incident that took place outside a commercial establishment on Friday.
Police were called to the 700 block of Goyeau Street around 10:30 a.m. for a disturbance at a nearby grocery store.
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“I believe the initial call was to a grocery store across the street,” said Kristy Denette, a spokesperson for the SIU. “It was characterized as a disturbance.”
The SIU said the 57-year-old man, who later died in hospital, had an interaction with police before being shot by an officer.
One of the officers who fired the shots suffered a minor cut during the confrontation, according to police.
Speaking to the Windsor Star on Monday, Denette could not say if both officers shot at the man or what type of knives were involved. The Windsor Police originally mentioned publicly only that one officer had fired at an armed suspect downtown on Friday.
Five SIU investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. The scene around Elliot and Goyeau streets was cleared Saturday.
“No police officer comes to work ever wanting to have to shoot, wound, or in this case, take the life of another human being,” said Windsor Police Association president Kent Rice.
“Having to cope and wrestle with the fact that you’ve taken somebody’s life is very damaging and very difficult to get by.”
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Rice, who could not comment on last week’s police-involved shooting, told the Star Monday that he has been in contact with the officers involved. He said as of now, it appears that “they’re doing OK.”
“I remind people in the public that you see the outcome of the decision an officer had to make, but you don’t get to see the choices that they’re facing at the time,” Rice said.
“Serious and traumatic events take place. Unfortunately, with the violent nature of policing, sometimes incidences like this unfold.
“I pass on my condolences to the family of the deceased person involved. I’m sure they have lots of questions that are unanswered as the SIU is unfolding their investigation. Nobody wants to have these events take place and I feel sorry for what the family has to endure.”
The SIU said a post-mortem on the man was completed Sunday, but no further information has been released.
“Work is still underway to conduct interviews,” Denette said. “I know there was no body-worn cameras in this case but there is the CCTV footage.
“It happened during broad daylight in a busy area, so if there is anyone else out there, please come forward and contact us.”
To contact SIU call 1-800-787-8529 or go online to siu.on.ca and click on Contact Us.
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