Five police officers shot or shot at across Canada in two weeks since Toronto constable killed
Since Toronto Police Constable Marc Pinizzotto was fatally shot on June 11, five additional officers have been struck by gunfire or targeted by shooters in separate incidents across Canada.
Five police officers shot or shot at across Canada in two weeks since Toronto constable killed
In the span of less than a fortnight following the death of Toronto Police Constable Marc Pinizzotto, five additional law enforcement officers have been struck by bullets or had shots fired at them in separate incidents stretching from Ontario to Saskatchewan and Quebec.
According to the Toronto Sun, the 43-year-old Pinizzotto was gunned down on June 11 while carrying out his duties. Since that date, the violence against officers has continued unabated across multiple provinces.
In Montreal, two members of the municipal police force were hit during a chaotic exchange of fire. One of them, Constable Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, did not survive the encounter. The second officer sustained injuries and remains hospitalized. Authorities have linked a 25-year-old man from Alberta, Seth Scott Hatfield, to the deadly confrontation.
Meanwhile, in Saskatchewan, two Royal Canadian Mounted Police members were shot in a separate episode. Out west in Ontario's Peel Region, a police officer found themselves targeted by three gunshots in yet another incident.
The funeral for Pinizzotto took place on Wednesday, marking the second such memorial service for a fallen officer in the Greater Toronto Area in under seven days. The ceremonies drew attention to what officials describe as a disturbing surge in attacks on those in uniform.
Investigators examining the Montreal case reportedly discovered a lengthy 104-page manifesto inside Hatfield's residence. The document allegedly contained an array of grievances alongside calls for violence and encouragement for others to carry out attacks. The writings reportedly named potential targets including corporate headquarters, investment firms, political figures, and technology companies. Once police located the document, they issued a nationwide alert regarding the potential threat.
The weapons involved in Pinizzotto's death had allegedly been used in 27 prior shootings, including attacks on the U.S. consulate, Jewish houses of worship, and educational institutions.
Source: Toronto Sun Crime