A man with multiple guns got shot and killed by police in Mississauga this afternoon after a shootout that put a bullet hole clean through one cop’s hat and triggered a massive emergency response that shut down roads for more than 4 hours.
The Special Investigations Unit’s taken over after the deadly shooting around 2:15 PM on Dundas Street East near Cawthra Road. The SIU looks into any case where police force leads to death, serious injury, or sexual assault allegations.
That officer who took the bullet through their hat? They walked away without a scratch. Can’t get much closer than that. The round went straight through their cap without touching their head – investigators figure it missed by less than an inch. We covered a related angle in Windsor border workers face job cuts as.
“This officer came millimeters away from being killed in the line of duty today,” said SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon. “When we talk about the dangers police face, this is exactly what we mean. A fraction of an inch made the difference between going home to family and not.”
How It All Went Down
Started at 1:47 PM when Peel cops got flooded with 911 calls about some guy waving guns around in a plaza parking lot near Dundas and Cawthra. Police dispatch records show at least three different people called in about this man with what looked like “long guns” and acting completely unhinged.
First patrol cars rolled up at 1:52 PM. Five minutes after that first call.
Things went sideways fast when the armed guy started shooting at the officers as they approached. Cops fired back in what witnesses said was an intense gun battle that lasted about 90 seconds. Felt like forever, I bet.
The man got hit multiple times and paramedics pronounced him dead right there at 2:23 PM (shocking, I know). EMS had been waiting nearby since they confirmed there were guns involved – that’s just what they do when things might get violent.
Six patrol units showed up, plus 2 tactical teams, 3 ambulances and 2 fire trucks (at least on paper). That’s a serious response, but when you’ve got an active shooter in a busy shopping area, you don’t mess around.
That Bullet Hole Could’ve Changed Everything
The officer whose hat got shot through? Twelve-year veteran with Peel Regional Police. Their name isn’t public yet, but sources say this wasn’t their first dangerous situation. Just the closest they’ve come to not making it home.
The bullet went straight through – entry hole, exit hole, perfectly lined up. If that officer’s head had been positioned just a bit different, or if they hadn’t ducked at exactly the right second.. Well, we’d be talking about a very different story.
People who saw it happen said they counted between 15 and 20 gunshots during the whole thing. All those shell casings they’re collecting will help investigators figure out exactly how many rounds got fired by who.
“I was in my car at the red light when I heard the first shots,” said Maria Santos, who witnessed the shooting from approximately 100 meters away. “The police officer dropped down behind the car door and I could see the man shooting from between the parked cars. It was terrifying. I’ve never seen anything like it except in movies.”
That officer with the bullet hole in their hat? They’re on administrative leave now while the SIU does their investigation.
Standard procedure for anyone involved in a shooting, whether they fired their gun or just happened to be there.
This Guy Came Loaded for War
Police found 4 guns at the scene.
We’re talking 2 semi-automatic rifles, 1 shotgun, and 1 handgun. Plus about 200 rounds of ammunition in different calibers. This wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment thing – somebody planned this out.
Early ballistics work shows at least 3 of those 4 guns got fired during the shootout. Shell casings from different weapon types scattered across a 30-meter area where everything happened.
Classic.
The Centre of Forensic Sciences is examining all the firearms now to see if they were registered and legally owned. Usually takes 2-3 weeks and it’ll tell them a lot about how this guy got his hands on all these weapons.
Here’s the thing though – none of those 4 guns were registered to the dead suspect. Police are trying to trace where they came from. Stolen? Bought on the black market? They’re going to find out.
Guy was also wearing a tactical vest, but it wasn’t bulletproof or anything. More like something designed to carry extra magazines and gear. Again, shows this wasn’t spontaneous – he came prepared.
The Investigation’s Going to Take Months
SIU sent 6 investigators to handle this case – 2 forensic specialists and 1 ballistics expert among them. They got to the scene at 4:30 PM, about 2 hours after the shooting.
They’re going to interview 8 cops who were there. Three of them are “subject officers” because they fired their weapons, and 5 are witness officers who saw what happened but didn’t shoot.
The SIU’s got 120 days to finish their investigation and submit their report. But complicated cases with multiple guns and officers? Sometimes they need longer. Extensions happen when things get messy.
Over 200 pieces of physical evidence to examine.
Shell casings, bullet fragments, damaged police cars, the suspect’s weapons. They’ll also check security cameras from at least 4 businesses nearby that might’ve caught parts of what happened.
Post-mortem exam within 48 hours to figure out exact cause of death and how many times the suspect got hit. That information’s important for determining if the cops used reasonable force given what they were dealing with.
What This Means for Regular People
This happened in one of Mississauga’s busiest commercial strips. Dozens of businesses, hundreds of people around when the shooting started. Six businesses got evacuated and roads stayed closed for 4 hours, affecting thousands of commuters trying to get home.
School boards got notified right away. Two elementary schools nearby went into brief lockdowns just to be safe. Got lifted at 3:15 PM once police confirmed the threat was over.
Property damage includes 3 police cruisers with bullet holes, 2 civilian cars that got hit by stray rounds, and damage to one commercial building’s front. Total estimated damage? Over $85,000.
For people living in the area, this is a wake-up call that gun violence can happen anywhere. Even in what most folks consider a safe suburban neighbourhood. Mississauga usually sees fewer than 5 police shootings per year, so this isn’t exactly common.
The psychological impact on people who saw this happen shouldn’t be overlooked. City’s announced counseling services at the Mississauga Community Centre for anyone affected by what they witnessed.
Business owners in that plaza are dealing with their stores being treated as crime scenes.
Some stayed closed for over 6 hours while investigators did their work. That’s lost revenue during what would normally be a busy afternoon.
Taking Care of the Cops
Every officer involved in the shooting has to get psychological evaluation and support through Peel Regional Police’s Employee Assistance Program. The one who almost got their head blown off? They’re getting extra specialized counseling for what psychologists call a “near-death” traumatic experience.
Studies show cops involved in shootings – even justified ones – often deal with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Almost dying by a hair’s breadth adds another layer of psychological trauma that’s going to need ongoing professional help.
Peel Regional Police numbers show officers involved in shootings typically take 6-8 weeks off duty while getting counseling and waiting for investigations to wrap up. Some never go back to front-line work and transfer to desk jobs instead.
The police association says they’ll provide full support to all officers involved. That includes legal representation during the SIU investigation and access to private counseling beyond what the police force offers.
The Bigger Picture on Police Shootings
This makes it the 23rd police-involved shooting in Ontario this year. Of those cases, 18 ended with someone dead and 5 involved non-fatal injuries to suspects.
Police-involved shootings in Ontario have stayed pretty steady over the past 5 years – usually between 25 and 30 incidents annually. But the percentage that end in death has gone up from 65% in 2019 to roughly 78% this year.
What makes today different is how heavily armed this suspect was and the direct threat to officers’ lives. Most police shootings involve suspects with a single weapon – usually a handgun or knife. Four firearms and 200 rounds of ammo?
That’s extremely rare preparation.
The fact that an officer’s life got saved by millimeters will likely weigh heavily in the SIU’s decision about whether deadly force was justified. When officers are taking direct fire from multiple weapons, the legal bar for using lethal force is typically much easier to clear.
Public opinion on police shootings usually depends on the specific circumstances. Cases where cops are clearly defending themselves against armed attackers generally get more public support than incidents involving unarmed suspects or unclear threat levels.
The investigation will determine if proper procedures got followed and whether the officers’ actions were reasonable given what they knew at the time.
With physical evidence showing direct fire on police positions and an officer’s hat with a bullet hole through it, the case for justified force looks strong. But the SIU will make the final call based on their complete investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SIU and why are they investigating?
The Special Investigations Unit is an independent agency that investigates all cases where police use of force results in death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault.
Was the officer who was shot at injured?
No, the officer was uninjured despite having a bullet pass through their cap during the exchange of gunfire.
How long will the SIU investigation take?
The SIU has 120 days to complete their investigation and determine whether criminal charges should be laid against any officers involved.
