The Special Investigations Unit is probing the death of a 25-year-old Pickering man, who died after being shot numerous times by police following an altercation at a TTC bus stop Sunday afternoon.
Police were waiting for the bus to arrive on Victoria Park Avenue at Biscayne Boulevard around 3pm after receiving reports of a man with a knife on board. When the suspect, Reyal Jensen Jardine-Douglas, got off the bus there was a confrontation with police that ended with gunfire.
"A youth...stepped off the bus at the time and he was confronted by a police officer and the police officer said if you have any weapons drop them and don't move. The youth seemed panicky and went to run and made a motion putting his right hand into the left side of his coat, turning, the officer drew his gun and just gave him 3 shots straight square in the chest," recalled witness Vincent Macleod.
Another witness claims she saw police fire more shots at the man once he down.
"A youth jumped off the bus and started to run away, the police said 'get on the ground, get on the ground,' and they fired three shots and he went down and then two more shots were fired. He was on the ground when two more shots rang out," the woman, who didn't want to be identified, told CityNews.
A family member had apparently called police earlier seeking help with Jardine-Douglas, who may have been suffering from mental illness.
"I'm saddened that it happened but it's not a big surprise," said family friend Nicole Hemmings. "We always had a fear that this would happen..."
Jardine-Douglas was taken to hospital with no vital signs and was pronounced dead shortly after 4pm Sunday.
Lawyer for the police union, Joseph Markson, offered the following statement on Monday:
"I believe that the actions of the subject officer stopped a potentially lethal threat to the lives of passengers on the bus and that he discharged his weapon in self-defence."
Anyone who may have information should contact the Unit at 416-622-0748 or 1-800-787-8529.
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