SIU invokes mandate after fatal police-involved shooting in Innisfil

The Province's police watchdog has invoked its mandate after a fatal police-involved shooting in a gated Innisfil community.

Police were called to a home on Shoreview Drive, near Fairway Road and Guest Road, Thursday afternoon for reports of a violent incident.

Initial reports from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) indicated that there was an altercation between two youths and police outside the home, but later clarified that the youths were instead two 19-year-old men.

"I think it was about six, seven shots, maybe a bit more, and then a couple of seconds paused, and then more shots, maybe about 10 shots after," said Joanne Murchison, who lives in the area.

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The SIU said four officers fired their guns at the young men, who suffered serious and life-threatening injuries.

The independent agency said one of the young men was pronounced dead at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie, while the other was taken to RVH and later transferred to a hospital in Toronto in critical condition.

Neighbours tell CTV News the 19-year-olds are twin brothers, but police have not confirmed the identities of those involved.

Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case and spent Friday canvassing the area.

The South Simcoe Police have requested that the Ontario Provincial Police conduct a parallel investigation into the incident.

The circumstances surrounding the dispute haven't been made clear, nor were the immediate moments before shots were fired.

South Simcoe police began piloting body-worn cameras for two years, which could now become an intricate part of the investigation.

"Sometimes they don't necessarily capture the exact angle of the threat," explained CTV News Public Safety Analyst and former OPP commissioner Chris Lewis. "So if I pointed a gun at you, or if you pointed a gun at me from my side, and I lifted my arm and shot you from the side, the body-worn camera might not pick up that video."

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about the investigation to contact investigators.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates incidents involving police where death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm has occurred.