Toronto shooting, carjacking suspect surrenders in Orillia after police chase

A dramatic police chase that took officers from Toronto up Highway 400 into Orillia started when the suspect allegedly tried to shoot his own brother.

Police said Kristian Jarvis, 31, fired a shot at his brother at a home on Herzberg Gardens, near Keele Street and Finch Avenue West, just after 2 a.m. No one was hurt.

In an effort to escape, Jarvis then allegedly stole and attempted to steal several vehicles.

On the fourth attempt, he allegedly approached the foreman at an auto business near Norfinch Drive and Steeles Avenue West, assaulted him and demanded money and the keys.

Jarvis abandoned the vehicle, because he couldn’t drive standard, and moved on to a silver Honda Civic nearby.

Two women were sitting inside — one was shot and taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Staff at Centennial Optical said the woman, believed to be in her 50s, worked at the business.

Jarvis then took off, heading north on the nearby 400. He shot at the officers pursuing him, police said, but none of those officers were hurt.

During the chase, the suspect crashed into another vehicle. OPP Sgt. Peter Leon said there was a number of collisions, with significant property damage, but no serious injuries.

Jarvis stopped somewhere on Highway 400 near Rutherford Road and, as officers approached, again allegedly opened fire on them before taking off.

Police from Toronto and other areas used spike strips which deflated the getaway car’s tires. Jarvis was surrounded on Highway 400 near Highway 11, ran into the bushes, and eventually surrendered.

Insp. Colin Greenaway said Jarvis showed “absolutely no remorse” during the arrest and was “angered and belligerent.”

Witnesses at the scene said the suspect had been seen throwing items from the window of the car, including pills. Police dogs were brought in to search for the gun, which they found.

“It’s never a good day when people are shooting at my officers,” Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters on Wednesday.

“I’m a little bit concerned about the gunplay of anyone at any time in this city but when you’re shooting at law enforcement that raises the bar quite a bit … I will tell you that, as I stated before, I’m very concerned when people are shooting at police officers. I think that there is no tolerance for that and the fact that a person would shoot at police officers gives me some concern.”