19-Year-Old To Be Charged After Toronto Police Officer Killed

A 19-year-old will be charged with first-degree murder after Toronto police Const. Marc Pinizzotto was killed in what police described as a toronto police officer killed case on Thursday morning. Pinizzotto, 43, was shot while officers were carrying out an investigation tied to gun crimes across the Greater Toronto Area.

Toronto police said the investigation was linked to several firearm incidents, including one at the U.S. consulate in March. Chief Demkiw said Pinizzotto had been an 18-year veteran of the force and had spent the last five years on the emergency task force.

Tretheway Drive And Black Creek Drive

Special Investigations Unit spokesperson Monica Hudon said the exchange of gunfire began around 5:40 a.m. at a residential building near Tretheway Drive and Black Creek Drive. Police were executing several search warrants at the building when, Hudon said, a suspect discharged a firearm and hit an officer on the fourth floor.

Another officer then shot multiple times at the 19-year-old suspect, Nicholas Bennett of Toronto. Hudon said Bennett was taken to hospital in critical condition, and four other people were in the apartment unit at the time. Toronto police also said another 19-year-old suspect, Zara Jabbi, remained outstanding.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Demkiw told reporters outside Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that the death hit the force hard. “There's a very heavy sorrow in our community right now,” he said. He also said, “No words can capture the impact on Marc's family, who expected him to come home today.”

Police held a procession at 1 p.m. from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to the chief coroner's office as the investigation into the shooting and Pinizzotto's death continued under the Special Investigations Unit.