Toronto police officer charged in North York shooting that seriously injured 31-year-old man

A Toronto police officer is facing criminal charges related to a shooting in North York in February that left a man with serious injuries.

Officers responded to reports of a man with a knife in the area of Black Creek and Trethewey drives just before 8 a.m. on Feb. 27.

At the time, police said a 31-year-old man was walking his dog in a nearby park when he got into an argument with another man. The man with the dog then allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened the other man.

In an update on Friday, the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said a police officer fired his gun twice at the man with the dog and two other officers fired their Tasers at him.

Const. Andrew Davis has been charged with one count of aggravated assault contrary and one count of discharge firearm with intent to maim, wound, disfigure or endanger life.

The SIU didn’t provide a rationale for the charges.

The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Oct. 3, 2023.

CityNews reached out to Toronto police to get more information about Davis’s current employment status and his background with the service.

Toronto Police Association (TPA) President, Jon Reid, provided the following statement to CityNews:

“This is an unfortunate incident for everyone involved and we know this has been, and will continue to be, a difficult time for Constable Davis, his family, and his colleagues.

“As an Association, it is our responsibility to ensure our member receives fair and thorough representation. Since the time of this incident, the TPA has provided support to the member. This is the same process that would be followed for any member of the TPA who is charged by the Special Investigations Unit.

“Police officers are governed by the highest degree of oversight and accountability, more so than any other profession. As difficult as it may be, we must wait for the case to make its way through the courts and for the disciplinary process that may follow. In the interim, there is no value in passing judgement on this officer or with casting aspersions on an entire membership.”

According to provincial law, an officer facing criminal charges is usually suspended with pay.

Back in February, the SIU said responding officers provided first aid to the wounded man until paramedics arrived at the scene and he was transported to hospital.

The police watchdog had also said that a knife was recovered at the scene.

The SIU didn’t provide an update on man’s condition in its latest update or a more detailed reasoning for the changes. But the lawyer for the victim, David Shellnutt, said his client’s injuries have been both “physical and psychological in nature. These injuries have made the last few months since the shooting nearly unbearable. Life has been incredibly difficult.”

Shellnutt identified the 31-year-old as Devon Fowlin, who is Black.

“This is a positive step forward for Devon and his family. However, it does not erase what happened and what he has endured,” his lawyer said.

He goes to say that “TPS acknowledged and apologized for high numbers of violent interactions perpetrated against Black and Indigenous Torontonians. Why do we let this continue?”

With files from Charlene Close and Michael Ranger of CityNews