Man shot dead by police after ‘dispute’ at Toronto Pearson airport

Officials say a 30-year-old man shot by Peel Regional Police officers at Toronto Pearson Airport on Thursday morning has died.
According to Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, officers received a call “to assist in resolving a dispute at Terminal 1 departures level right at the curbside” just before 7 a.m. According to Duraiappah, officers “engaged in discussions” with approximately two to three individuals who were “experiencing a dispute.” He stated that officers attempted to calm the situation and come to an agreement for about 10 to 15 minutes. Duraiappah stated, “However, abruptly one of the individuals produced a firearm at our officers,” noting that three Peel Regional Police officers responded to the situation. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which acts as the province’s police watchdog and investigates various incidents such as officer-involved shootings, said a 30-year-old man was shot.The SIU said the man died at the scene, adding no officers were injured.
According to the chief of police, only two officers “engaged” in gunfire with the man. While the SIU initially said it was three officers, the watchdog corrected their information to say it was only two.
Due to the SIU’s involvement, and parallel investigation, Duraiappah said he was limited in the details he could share.
“Peel Regional Police absolutely is cooperating fully,” Duraiappah said. “We have body camera video, and obviously we’re at a place that has a lot of evidence, and a lot of witnesses. The Special Investigations Unit will have access to everything. Duraiappah added the people involved in the dispute all knew each other and were at the airport for the purpose of travel, but he could not confirm if the person who he says had a firearm was also there for travel.
He said it was a person from the group that initially called police, and that the shooting occurred near an SUV on the curbside.
“We responded to what we believed was just a dispute. The officers tried their best to mediate the situation for quite some time, at most for a few minutes. According to Duraiappah, “at that point, there was no information of that level of risk.” Pearson Airport stated that it continues to “operate normally at this time,” but the roadway that leads to Terminal 1 departures was closed as a result of the police investigation. On Thursday, it reopened just before 6 p.m. Ontario Premier Doug Ford commented on the shooting during the day.
“Isn’t that terrible, like what is the world coming to?” he said in a brief conversation with reporters.” The airport and shootings happening? It’s unacceptable.”