SIU updates investigation that left baby boy, father shot and killed near Kawartha Lakes

Ontario’s police watchdog has provided an update on its investigation into an incident out of Kawartha Lakes that resulted in a 33-year-old father and one-year-old son shot and killed following an interaction with officers.

On Nov. 26, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received reports that a father had abducted his son just before 9 a.m. that morning.

Officers discovered a vehicle of interest a short time later and attempted to stop the pickup truck.

A police chase ensued and an OPP cruiser collided with the suspect vehicle on Pigeon Lake Road in Kawartha Lakes. An OPP officer was standing outside the police cruiser when the collision took place and suffered serious injuries.

An altercation then occurred between the father and the officers. Three officers discharged their weapons and the 33-year-old was taken to hospital with serious injuries. He later died in hospital.

The one-year-old boy, who was in the backseat of the vehicle, was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said on Monday out of respect for the family, the names of the victims have not been released due to privacy.

“Understandably, there is a pressing public interest in this case, including how the child died and whether it was gunfire from the father or OPP officers that caused the death,” the SIU said on Monday.

“The SIU is working to make these determinations. Doing so, however, requires time as key evidence must be examined methodically in line with best practices.”

The SIU says two police-issued rifles and one police-issued pistol were collected from the scene and that the three officers who discharged their firearms were designated as a result. A pistol was also located in the pickup truck.

The SIU is awaiting results following the post-mortems of the one-year-old conducted on Nov. 28 and of the father on Dec. 4.

Investigators say a total of 14 witness officers have been interviewed, and three additional witness officers will be interviewed Tuesday. The SIU says 12 civilian witnesses have also been interviewed.

“The SIU assures the public that it is working as expeditiously as possible,” they said. “To the extent information regarding the results of the aforementioned-examinations can be released, once they are completed, without undermining the integrity of the investigation, the SIU will do so.”

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.