The University of Toronto cancelled classes at its Mississauga campus Tuesday after a 19-year-old man was found dead in a student residence following a police response Monday night.
Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), is looking into the circumstances because Peel Regional Police officers were at the scene when the man died.
Peel police Const. Tyler Bell-Morena said officers were first called around 3 p.m. Nov. 2 for a reports that a man armed with a handgun had assaulted a woman in Brampton. Officers located a suspect around 9 p.m. at a student residence near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
The university issued a shelter-in-place order for students near McLuhan Court, a residence complex housing hundreds of first-year students, while police responded.
Investigators believe the suspect, who wasn’t a student, was visiting someone he knew, Bell-Morena said. The relationship between the two wasn’t immediately clear.
SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette said police confronted the suspect outside the home.
Police officers entered the unit after making multiple unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the man, Bell-Morena said. The suspect was found dead, bringing the incident to an end at approximately 1:30 a.m.
Denette said police fired more than 20 “less lethal” rounds to subdue the suspect.
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Given police were at the scene when the man died, the SIU was notified and invoked its mandate.
“The officers were inside, within the common area, working to try and engage with the suspect,” Bell-Morena said.
“Many were able to self evacuate. Many of the adjacent units were evacuated by police and a shelter in place order was put in effect for the area residents as well.”
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No other injuries were reported.
The university said it cancelled classes out of compassion for more than 2,000 students living in residence and others affected by the incident. The shelter-in-place order was also lifted.
“Employees who were likewise required to shelter in place on campus last night will also take the time they need for their wellbeing,” the school said in a notice.
“UTM recognizes that over the coming days there will be many questions from members of our community. Please know that we are here to support you and our community.”
The SIU said four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the SIU.
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