SCARBOROUGH: SIU continues to probe shooting
Mirror photo/ANDREW PALAMARCHUK
Toronto police look for evidence late Tuesday afternoon outside RBC Financial located at Sheppard Avenue and Markham Road after a man was shot by police following a bank robbery. A robot prepares to search for an explosive device that the suspect threatened he would use.
The province’s police watchdog continues to probe the Tuesday afternoon shooting of an alleged bank robber that left him in hospital with serious injuries.
Several police officers responded to a holdup at the Royal Bank branch on Sheppard Avenue west of Markham Road at about 3 p.m. The officers were on scene when a man, who had reportedly claimed to be armed with an explosive device, left the bank holding something in each hand. The 50-year-old man interacted with the officers during which time he was shot at least twice by an officer. The man was taken by ambulance to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where he underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries. He is now listed in stable condition.
The Special Investigations Unit has designated one subject and 10 witness officers.
“There appeared to be a lot of people in the area at the time, so we know there are some independent witnesses out there,” SIU spokesman Frank Phillips said. “If anybody has any information that would assist us, we would appreciate a telephone call.”
The SIU, a civilian agency that investigates whenever there is a serious injury or death involving police, has assigned nine investigators to the case.
Police closed Sheppard between Markham and Scunthorpe roads for the remainder of the day for the investigation.
The bomb squad attended the scene, and a bomb-detecting robot helped search for evidence.
Maria Seguro, who has been living in the area for 10 years, said the neighbourhood isn’t great. “But you have to live somewhere,” she said at the scene. “These days there are no safe areas.”
Witnesses to the shooting are asked to call the SIU at 416-622-1957.
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