‘Deeply concerning level of violence:’ Man charged with attempted murder after Toronto police officer shot
Posted August 13, 2026 6:00 am.
Last Updated August 13, 2026 5:02 pm.
A 27-year-old man is facing an attempted murder charge after a Toronto police officer was shot early Thursday morning while responding to a robbery involving a stolen e‑bike.
Police say officers were dispatched to Bloor Street East and Sherbourne Street near St. James Town around 3:21 a.m. for a robbery call connected to a stolen e‑bike.
It’s alleged a victim was riding his e-bike when he was approached by two male suspects who were also riding an e-bike. The suspects, one of which had a knife, pushed the victim off his e-bike and allegedly assaulted him. One of the suspects fled the area on the victim’s e-bike and the other left in an unknown direction.
Officers then spotted the suspect on the e-bike. He allegedly failed to stop for police and continued riding in the area of Bloor and Sherbourne. At some point he got off the e-bike and started running away from officers who then ran after him, police allege.
When the officers attempted to arrest the suspect, he allegedly resisted before pulling out a firearm and shooting an officer in the upper thigh.
The officers quickly applied a tourniquet to the injured offier as they waited for paramedics to arrive.
The officer was rushed to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, where paramedics at St. Michael’s later confirmed to CityNews the officer is expected to survive.
The suspect continued to resist and allegedly attempted to grab one of the officer’s Conducted Energy Weapon. He was then arrested at the scene and a firearm was recovered. The Toronto police officers involved did not discharge their firearms during the incident.
Stefano Edwards, 27, of Peterborough is facing 14 charges including attempt murder, assault with intent to resist arrest, robbery with an offensive weapon and several firearm charges.
Edwards was out on conditions related to weapons offences and was also wanted by Peel police and Waterloo police for firearm offences.
Toronto police say one suspect is still outstanding but they have not identified them at this time. No description has been made available.
“What happened this morning was unacceptable … that is an extraordinary and deeply concerning level of violence,” said Toronto police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue. She said the officer is a three-year veteran and added she is grateful the officer is expected to recover.
CityNews spoke with a man who says he was the victim of the related criminal incident earlier in the night. The man said he was riding his e‑bike home from work near Dundas and Shuter streets when two suspects approached him, threatened to assault him, and stole it. He called police and used a tracking device on the e-bike to relay its location.
He noted that a friend drove him toward Bloor Street, where the device indicated the e-bike had stopped. By the time he arrived, the confrontation between police and the suspect had already unfolded. He said he did not witness the shooting or the officer’s injury.
“The violence we’ve seen against our members is unacceptable,” said Toronto Police Association President, Clayton Campbell. “We have someone out on bail for violent offences committing other violent offences.”
He said 600 members have been injured this year doing their jobs, highlighting Thursday’s shooting and the fatal shooting of Const. Marc Pinizzotto earlier this year.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw praised the efforts of fellow officers who provided life-saving measures to their colleague while conducting an arrest at the same time. He echoed the police association’s concerns when it comes to repeat offenders, calling for stronger accountability and meaningful deterrence.
“It is deeply troubling that the individual accused of shooting our officer was out on conditions for previous weapons offences and wanted on outstanding warrants in two jurisdictions in connection with firearms and other serious offences,” he said in a social media post. “I have been raising concerns about repeat violent offenders for some time. There must be stronger accountability and meaningful deterrence for those who repeatedly engage in serious violence and put the public- and the officers working to protect them – at risk.”
Premier Doug Ford said the Justices of the Peace should be fired if they “start letting these guys out on bail.”
“Why are you a judge if you want to hurt the community,” said Ford. He added his thoughts and prayers are with the family of the police officer.
He also urged the federal government to implement mandatory sentencing for certain offences, including shooting a police officer.
The investigation is ongoing.
