Two police officers killed, suspect dead in ‘exchange of gunfire’ in Innisfil

Two police officers and a 23-year-old man are dead following an exchange of gunfire" after police responded to a disturbance" inside an Innisfil home Tuesday night, Ontario's Special Investigations Unit says.

The officers were shot inside the home near 25th Sideroad and 9th Line in Innisfil, south of Barrie, according to the South Simcoe Police Service.

Multiple police sources - who weren't authorized to speak on the record about the incident - told Simcoe.com that the officers were responding to a domestic call. Police had previously said officers had been called to a disturbance at the home.

South Simcoe police are set to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Innisfil Town Hall. Chief John Van Dyke is expected to read a prepared statement but will not be taking questions.

According to a news release from the SIU, the incident involved an exchange of gunfire" between the man and officers.

The provincial police watchdog, which probes deaths and violent incidents involving police, is conducting the investigation.

Six investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, the SIU said.

The two officers who were shot were rushed to a local hospital where one officer died. The second officer was airlifted to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto where he died.

On Wednesday morning, Toronto police escorted that officer from the downtown Toronto hospital to the Office of the Chief Coroner where an autopsy will take place.

One neighbour, who asked to be identified only as Kevin, lives about 60 metres from the home where the incident happened. He said he had attended a garage sale at the home, but doesn't know those neighbours well.

Kevin went into his backyard to take something off his barbecue around 9:15 p.m., when he heard a barrage of bullets" - somewhere between seven and 12 shots in all.

They were in such quick succession," he said. It was pop, pop, pop, pop, pop' - very quick. It sounded like it was coming from one firearm, not three. It sounded like someone was emptying a clip. It was all the same sound."

He ran inside his house.

I ran in to see my wife and I said did you hear those bullets?' She said no'," he said. As soon as I said that, my neighbour across the street called. They live two doors down from where the incident happened. She said there's something crazy going on."

He saw several police vehicles pull up and stop in front of him. The officers got out of their vehicles and entered the suspect's residence.

This is the third and fourth Ontario police officer to have been killed this year - all in the span of about four weeks.

Exactly a month ago in September, Toronto police Const. Andrew Hong, 48, died in the line of duty on Sept. 12, one of three people fatally shot by a lone gunman who went on a shooting rampage in Mississauga and Milton before being shot dead by police in Hamilton.

In uniform, Hong was fired upon at close range by the shooter and died inside a Mississauga Tim Hortons, his colleagues at his side.

On Sept. 14, two days after Hong's death, York Regional Police officer Travis Gillespie was killed in Markham in a head-on collision with an alleged impaired driver. Gillespie was on his way to work.

We are praying for the officers' families and all the police officers who put their lives on the line to protect our communities," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a tweet Wednesday morning.

Durham police also tweeted their condolences. We are truly saddened to hear this tragic news from @SouthSimcoePS. We are praying for all of those affected by this devastating incident. #heroesinlife."

This is a developing story, please check back for more information as it becomes available.

With files from Wendy Gillis

Janis Ramsay is an award-winning journalist covering Simcoe County for more than 22 years. She is mom to two boys who are into sports and tech.

Chris Simon is a journalist with the Barrie Advance. He can be reached at chris.simon@simcoe.com . Follow him on Twitter

Alyshah Hasham is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and court for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @alysanmati