SIU investigates fatal police shooting in Mississauga

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating a shooting that left one person dead and sent three to hospital on Friday night in Mississauga, Ont. 

Two officers with the Peel Regional Police were among the injured. 

Next thing you know I hear the pop, pop, pop, pop gunshots.- Neighbour Rachel Firlotte

One of the officers was shot, the other was stabbed. Both were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and, according to the police union, had been released by Saturday morning. 

A 30-year-old male civilian was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead on the scene. Another civilian was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries.

Heavy police presence

Little is known about the incident. According to the SIU, the officers responded to a call for assistance at 3070 Queen Frederica Dr. near Dixie Road and Dundas Street East, around 10:40 p.m.

Neighbour Rachel Firlotte told CBC News she heard screaming around 10:30 p.m. 

"I got up to look out the window and see what the fighting was about. Next thing you know I hear the pop, pop, pop, pop gunshots."

Police are not commenting, as is standard procedure when the SIU becomes involved in an investigation. 

But area residents tell CBC News an argument between two neighbours had been escalating since early last week, until one allegedly made threats against the other, which led to the call for assistance on Friday. Neighbours also say the slain man had been acting strangely.

Peel Regional Police said at the time they were not looking for any suspects. Everyone involved in the incident was "accounted for" according to spokesman Const. George Tudos.

The incident drew a heavy police presence to the neighbourhood. As many as 80 police cars were on the scene at one point, and investigators remained on the scene Saturday morning. 

Five investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to the case by the SIU. The SIU investigates all incidents involving police in which serious injury or death occurs.