
In a recent event scrutinized by local authorities, a 29-year-old male was discharged to a nearby hospital with a critical wound after being fired upon by an officer of the Waterloo Regional Police in Kitchener. The sequence of events is currently under the microscope by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the province’s police oversight body.
The incident was sparked by a call to the police early Wednesday morning, pinpointing a man slumbering within a vehicle near Veronica Drive and Kinzie Avenue. “Upon the officer’s nearing the vehicle, a certain interaction transpired, although the exact nature of this discourse remains ambiguous,” stated Kristy Denette, an SIU spokesperson.
At this point, investigative teams are canvassing the incident location, collating evidence and insights to construct a clear understanding of the occurrence. Denette confirmed the officer’s ultimatum to discharge his firearm at the vehicle during the dubious interaction.
In the wake of events, a home surveillance video procured by CTV News shows a black SUV thundering away along a footpath in the vicinity. The footage correlates with the SIU’s preliminary conclusion. “Trajectory suggests the man evaded the scene, driving off into a proximate trail,” furthered Denette, “Any happenings post-escape remain speculative, although it’s believed the vehicle ceased, leading to the man’s subsequent arrest and hospitalization.”
Duty-bound by severity, the SIU has enlisted three investigators and two forensic investigators to crack the case.
As the day wore on, the police preserved the incident scene in Veronica Drive’s townhouse complex, cordoning off the premises with tape. The trail that the black SUV utilised for escape was equally barricaded.
For local residents, like Becky Cao, this occurrence was a rare anomaly. Seeing her quiet neighborhood turned into a crime scene was overwhelming for her. “This is typically a peaceful neighborhood. It was quite shocking to see police tape restricting the area.”
This incident serves as the second Waterloo Regional Police involved shooting in a span of ten days, the former taking place in Cambridge on October 15. Both incidents are now part of active SIU investigations.