Man dies after police shooting in Port Colborne

The province's Special Investigations Unit has begun an investigation into a police-involved shooting death of a 52-year-old man in Port Colborne Sunday.

In a news release, the SIU said Niagara Regional Police officers responded to a building near Main Street West and Canal Bank Road for a neighbour dispute.

The suspect was in an upper apartment over some businesses.

Upon police arrival, a person of interest went into his apartment and barricaded himself inside, the SIU said. The emergency task unit (ETU) responded, and a negotiator made attempts to speak with the man."

At approximately 2 p.m., the ETU conducted a forced entry. Inside the apartment one of the officers discharged his firearm and the man was struck, the SIU said.

The man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The case has been assigned to three SIU investigators and three forensic investigators.

Anyone with information about this incident, including video or photos, is asked by the SIU to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or at https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of policing officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians.