Man, 40, shot dead by cops in Niagara Falls
One officer also suffered a 'serious injury' when the ROPE Squad attempted to arrest the man for 'parole violations'
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The province’s police watchdog has been called to investigate after cops shot and killed a man wanted for parole violations in Niagara Falls on Wednesday.
Niagara Regional Police say they were notified that there had been a “police-involved shooting” in the area of Stanley Ave. and Peer St. around 11:15 a.m.
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“The incident involved members of the Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Unit, which is operated by the OPP,” Niagara cops said in a statement released Wednesday. “The ROPE Unit is a multi-jurisdictional team comprised of officers seconded from various police services across Ontario.”
News reports suggest the deadly shooting unfolded near the Ramada by Wyndham hotel.
“Given the involvement of multiple police agencies and the invocation of the mandate by the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Niagara Regional Police Service is unable to provide further comment at this time,” police said.
“We can confirm that no NRPS officers were directly involved in the incident,” Niagara cops said. “However, NRPS officers did assist in the response.”
Police stressed there were no ongoing public safety concerns.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, which probes any serious injury or death involving police officers, issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon confirming that “a 40-year-old man was fatally shot by an officer.”
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The SIU said “preliminary information suggests” officers from multiple police services with the Ontario Provincial Police ROPE Squad were in the area “to arrest the man in relation to parole violations.”
“There was an interaction, and one officer discharged his firearm at the man,” the SIU said.
The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“An officer was taken to hospital with a serious injury,” the SIU added.
Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to call the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.
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