SIU investigating after man fatally shot near Lansdowne and Dupont

A man in his 40s died in hospital Monday after he was shot during an altercation with Toronto police near Dupont Street and Lansdowne Avenue.

The Special Investigation’s Unit [SIU] has taken over the case.

Police were called to Campbell Avenue just before 11 a.m. after reports of a man trying to break into a car.

Plainclothes officers in an unmarked cruiser confronted the suspect, who allegedly pulled out a knife.

“I know that the fellow’s behaviour came to the attention of Toronto police and for good reasons they followed him and came in contact with him here on Campbell Ave.,” said SIU leader investigator Allan Eaton.

“That interaction was concluded with a police officer discharging his firearm, and that male is deceased.”

Witnesses say the man refused commands to drop the weapon.

“The officer was very vocal,” said Elson Pirest, who was walking his dog at the time of the incident. “He was telling him exactly what to do, the guy refused to follow it.”

“I saw the gentlemen pull out the knife, the officer was telling him, ‘drop the knife, drop the knife.’ A Good Samaritan was trying to coach him telling him, ‘Yo dude, it’s not even worth it.’ “

“The guy didn’t put down the knife and started walking northbound on Campbell.  He was walking, but he had the knife directed at the police officer,” he adds.

The man then walked into some nearby backyards with police in pursuit.

Another witness told CityNews his wife saw the man in their yard.

“When I came in, she said, ‘the cop just shot the guy,'” Josh Pimentel said.

Pimentel’s own brother, Mike, was fatally stabbed in Liberty Village early New Year’s Day. His killing remains unsolved.

The SIU wouldn’t say how many shots were fired in Monday’s incident, and the deceased man has not been identified.

Toronto Police have set up a command post in the area.

The SIU investigates cases involving police where there has been death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault.