Ontario Special Investigations Unit Probing Shooting in Vaughan That Left 6 Dead

York Regional Police tactical officers attend the scene of a shooting in Vaughan, Ont., on Dec. 18, 2022. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the York Regional Police (YRP) are investigating a deadly shooting at a condominium in Vaughan, Ontario, where six have been pronounced dead, including the suspect.

Police arrived at the condo at 9235 Jane Street, near Rutherford Road, at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Dec. 18, in response report of a shooting in progress. The 73-year-old male suspect was reported deceased after an interaction with the police, according to the SIU, an independent agency that oversees police-involved incidents in which someone is killed or injured.

“There was an interaction between an officer and the armed man in the building. The officer fired his gun and struck the man. Paramedics were called and the man was pronounced deceased at the scene,” SIU said in a news release on Dec. 19.

YRP will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. on Dec. 19 to provide updates on the incident.

“We are working to confirm the identities of the victims and ensure next of kin are notified. We hope to have that information ready to release for 2 p.m.,” the YRP said on social media.

An autopsy is scheduled for Dec. 20. Five victims were found deceased on site, while a sixth person was taken to hospital.

Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. One subject official has been designated so far.

Jim MacSween, head of the York Regional Police Force, described the shooting as “a horrendous scene.”

“Right now we just offer our sincere condolences to the victims’ families,” he said in a press conference held outside of the condo building in the hours immediately after the shooting.

YRP said in a Dec. 19 news release that they had conducted a “thorough search of the building to ensure there are no additional victims and that it’s safe.”

Residents in the condo building who had been evacuated were allowed return to their homes at around 1:20 a.m. on Dec. 19, YRP said in a social media post.

The Mayor of Vaughan, Stephen Del Duca, offered condolences to the families of the victims, while also applauding the first responders’ efforts.

“On behalf of the City of Vaughan and Council, I offer my condolences to the families of the victims killed in the shootings that occurred in the area of Jane Street and Rutherford Road. I want to recognize the brave first responders who are working to safeguard the situation,” Del Duca wrote in a Twitter post.

The investigation remains ongoing, authorities said. Police are recruiting witnesses, and anyone with video surveillance, cell phone video, or dashcam footage of the shooting is asked to contact SIU or YRP.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.