Authorities in Canada are investigating a fatal police-involved shooting after a 1-year-old child allegedly abducted by his father was found dead in a car.
The incident happened on Nov. 26 after the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was informed at approximately 8:45 a.m. about an alleged kidnapping in the municipality area of Trent Lakes.
Officers located a vehicle of interest in relation to the parental kidnapping a short time later that day on Sturgeon Road in the city of Kawartha, located about 130 kilometers northeast of Toronto, and attempted a traffic stop, according to a news release from the Special Investigation Unit.
While trying to stop the vehicle to conduct an investigation on the car, the man collided with an OPP cruiser and hit another civilian vehicle as well, police said.
“The truck became involved in a collision with an OPP cruiser and a civilian vehicle,” police said. “At that time, an OPP officer was standing outside of the cruiser and he sustained serious injuries.”
Following the crash, an altercation ensued between the 33-year-old man and three officers. Police then fired multiple shots at the truck.
The man was rushed to a hospital by helicopter and is in serious condition, police said. The child was found dead at the scene in the backseat of the car.
“Inside the pickup truck was a one-year-old boy. He had sustained a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the release stated.
A handgun was reportedly recovered from the vehicle and investigators haven’t confirmed yet if the child was struck by police who were discharging their weapons or if he was already dead, Global News reported.
“It’s too early for us to know why officers fired at the vehicle, and it’s too early for us to know exactly what transpired,” Monica Hudon, an OPP spokesperson told reporters.
The officer struck by the vehicle is also in a serious but stable condition and expected to survive, Thomas Carrique, the head of the OPP—one of North America’s largest deployed police services—wrote on Twitter.
Our officer is currently in stable condition and receiving medical care. Thank you for all the messages of support and best wishes.
— Thomas Carrique (@OPPCommissioner) November 26, 2020
The three firearms from the officers involved in the shooting have been collected from the scene. All of the weapons, from both police and the suspect, will be sent to the Centre of Forensic Sciences for examination.
Police Commissioner Carrique asked people on Twitter to wait before drawing conclusions and give detectives time to investigate.
As a result of a tragic incident today, one child is dead and two others significantly injured. I ask that @SIUOntario and @YRP be given time to investigate, without speculation on the events as they unfolded. Our thoughts & prayers are with those that are suffering today. https://t.co/wIdB2mXWYr
— Thomas Carrique (@OPPCommissioner) November 26, 2020
“As a result of a tragic incident today, one child is dead and two others significantly injured,” Carrique wrote. “I ask that be given time to investigate, without speculation on the events as they unfolded. Our thoughts & prayers are with those that are suffering today.”
The Special Investigation Unit who is investigating the case said the three officers involved in the deadly shooting, as well as 13 witnesses linked to the case, will be questioned and interviewed, Canadian outlet CBC reported.
The identities of the injured father and the child were not immediately available.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.