Police shoot teen at Mississauga plaza; SIU investigating

The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been called in to probe the police shooting of 15-year-old boy in Mississauga.

SIU spokesman Jason Gennaro said around 2 a.m. on July 27, Peel police were called to a plaza near Creditview and Britannia roads about gas station robbery involving three males.

Before police arrived, two of the three males fled in a grey vehicle, Gennaro said. One remained and allegedly attempted to rob another business. He also reportedly tried to get into three vehicles with people inside.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the suspect outside a bank in the plaza. During an interaction with police, one officer discharged a gun and the teen was struck. He was taken to hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition.

Police are still looking for the two other suspects, and for security video from the plaza.

A witness named Janet told CityNews that she was sitting in a parked car in the parking lot when the teen walked up to her car and opened the door. He was holding a gun, she said. She asked him to close the door and leave, as her boyfriend would soon be coming back. The boyfriend, Janet said, was a lie she told to get the teen to leave. He did leave and she drove to another location in the parking lot, where she called police.

From there, Janet said she could see the teen go up to at least one other car. The suspect then went into the Bank of Montreal. When police arrived, she told them the teen was in the bank.

Police drove toward the bank. Janet said she then heard gunshots and saw the teen laying on the ground.

The entire episode lasted about 10 to 15 minutes, she said.

The SIU said the plaza will be shut down for several hours. People who work in the plaza are asked to call their employer to see if they have to come to work today.

The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.