UMVA has learned that a Toronto Police officer is fighting for their life after being shot during a dramatic and intense exchange of gunfire in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at a highrise apartment building in the Trethewey Drive and Black Creek Drive area, where officers were conducting a search warrant, sparking a hail of bullets that left both the officer and a suspect critically injured.
Witnesses describe the chaotic scene, with reports of up to ten gunshots ringing out, followed by a frantic rush of cars racing to the scene and paramedics working desperately to save the lives of those wounded.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the officer's family is rushing to the hospital, where police leaders have also gathered, as the officer's condition remains precarious, with initial reports indicating they were "vital signs absent" before being revived.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community, coming as it does on the eve of Toronto's opening game of the FIFA World Cup, and eerily coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of the murder of Toronto Police Const. Todd Baylis, who was killed in the same area.
Details of the incident are still emerging, but sources have confirmed to UMVA that the officer was shot in the chest while executing a search warrant for guns and drugs, highlighting the dangers and risks faced by law enforcement officers every day.
The investigation is ongoing, with police working to piece together the events surrounding the shooting, as the city holds its breath, waiting for news of the officer's condition and the outcome of this devastating incident.
