Man fatally shot by police at Toronto Pearson Airport following ‘dispute’ with officers
Posted Apr 24, 2025 07:24:52 AM.
Last Updated Apr 24, 2025 06:56:28 PM.
A man was shot and killed by Peel Regional Police officers during an alleged dispute outside Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Thursday morning.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said Peel Regional Police officers were called to Terminal 1 departures at Toronto Pearson at around 7 a.m. to assist a distressed man in his SUV.
The province’s police watchdog said early indications are that one man produced a firearm and pointed the weapon at police, leading to two officers discharging their guns. The 30-year-old male victim died at the scene, the SIU confirmed.
In an update from the scene, Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said officers approached “two or three individuals” at Terminal 1, leading up to the now-fatal shooting.
“Abruptly, one of the individuals produced a firearm at the officers, at which point two of the three officers engaged,” said Duraiappah. “I am not aware of the nature of the dispute.”
Duraiappah said that the male victim and the other individuals were at the airport for the purpose of travel and were known to each other.
“I can only assume the nature of any dispute is some sort of crisis,” the police chief said. “We were there trying to mediate the dispute, and then it abruptly changed to a critical incident. It was exclusively our officers that were involved.”
SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette confirmed the man was with family members, but she couldn’t say whether there was a dispute among people or possibly a mental health crisis, noting that “the gentleman was kind of in a mental distress.”
Duraiappah added that this was not an attack on the airport, and there was no threat to public safety.
“There was no critical infrastructure threat,” he said.
The SIU is an independent civilian agency that probes incidents where people died or were seriously injured. Investigators also review incidents where sexual assault has been alleged or a firearm was discharged at a person.
Chaotic scene reported at Toronto Pearson early on Thursday
Tipsters who initially called into the 680 NewsRadio newsroom reported that several police cruisers were observed at Terminal 1 on Thursday morning. They cited a heavy police presence at departures, with cars backed up along the road leading to the terminal.
Witnesses tell 680 NewsRadio that they heard several gunshots outside the airport.
“I want to reiterate that there is no threat to public safety,” said Duraiappah. “It was 100 per cent contained outside [the airport] and in proximity to a vehicle.”
Highway 409 to Terminal 1 (departures) was closed for most of the day due to the ongoing investigation. It reopened to traffic just before 5:30 p.m.
Pearson Airport said flights continued to operate normally despite the ongoing investigation.
Inside the airport, travellers appeared largely unconcerned as they were rerouted in and out of the airport through the arrivals level. Some travellers said they had to wait in traffic but their flights were not delayed.
