Police shoot alleged gunman near major downtown Ottawa mall

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An alleged gunman was shot by Ottawa police on Rideau Street on Tuesday.

“Officers located the individual near 50 Rideau Street between Sussex Drive and Dalhousie Street. During the altercation, a member of the Ottawa Police Service discharged their firearm, hitting the individual,” police said in a news release.

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Const. Fern John-Simon of the OPS media-relations unit told reporters that officers had been called at around 1:30 p.m. for a person with a firearm in the Sparks Street area.

Officers located a person with a gun a short time after that, and shots were fired by police.

At 2:17 p.m., the first time police publicized the possibility of a shooter, they also gave an all-clear notice.

“There is no active threat to public safety. No outstanding suspects,” the force posted on the social media site X.

One man received gunshot wounds, a spokesperson for the Ottawa Paramedic Service said. “He was taken to hospital in critical condition after being stabilized by paramedics,” the spokesperson added.

A media release from police said the suspect was in stable condition later.

The doors to the Rideau Centre mall were temporarily locked after the shooting and Rideau Street was closed between Sussex and Dalhousie. The closure lasted for several hours.

Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, confirmed that it was investigating the shooting.

The SIU, in a news release on its website, said the man was 24 years old, and that two officers had discharged their firearms. The man was taken to hospital with serious injuries and was in stable condition, it said.

Four investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to the case, the release stated.

The SIU asked anyone who may have information about the incident, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php .

The SIU is a civilian oversight agency that investigates incidents involving police where there has been death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm at a person or an allegation of sexual assault.

Inside the Rideau Centre, behind the locked doors that typically open to Rideau Street, the Indigo bookstore was shuttered Tuesday.

The mall itself was calm. Security officials diverted shoppers away from the area.

None of the officers at the scene had a physical injury, police added.

Rideau Street was blocked off Tuesday, April 29, 2025 after an officer-involved shooting. One man was taken to hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds.

— With files from Marlo Glass

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