Susan Clairmont: GTA active shooter suspect shot dead in Hamilton
An active shooter wanted by Peel and Halton police for the killing of two people at separate scenes across the GTA on Monday has been shot dead by police in the Hamilton Cemetery.
At a scene on York Boulevard, Hamilton police Chief Frank Bergen said one person has been shot and pronounced deceased ... in the Hamilton Cemetery and this is in relationship to the earlier shootings that have occurred in Peel Region and Halton Region."
Earlier, a total of five people were shot in two separate shootings.
One of those killed, in Mississauga, was Toronto police Const. Andrew Hong, Toronto police Chief James Ramer told reporters at a solemn press conference. Hong, who was 48 years old and a 22-year veteran of the Toronto police, was shot at close range.
Constable Hong was a husband, a father and a son," said an emotional Ramer. I committed to his family that they will have the full support of the Toronto Police Service every day going forward."
A second person was killed in a separate triple shooting in Milton about 30 minutes later.
The three other people who were shot have suffered life-altering injuries, the Star reported.
A public alert about an active shooter was sent to cellphones across the province moments before the suspect was shot in Hamilton.
Bergen would not say if the person killed in the cemetery was armed.
The multi-part shooting began just after 2:15 p.m. on Monday when two people were shot near a Tim Hortons near Argentia Road and Winston Churchill Boulevard. One was transported to a trauma centre, police said. The shooting in Milton happened about 30 minutes later.
Just after 4 p.m., Hamilton police received information that the suspect was heading into our jurisdiction," said Bergen. The suspect was shot shortly after that.
The fatal interaction" took place at the back of the Hamilton Cemetery near Highway 403, according to Bergen.
At the early evening media conference, the Hamilton chief said there was no longer any danger to the public and no outstanding suspects," but would provide few details because the province's Special Investigations Unit has taken over the scene. The SIU arrived at about 6:30 p.m. It is called in whenever someone is killed, seriously injured or allegedly sexually assaulted in an interaction with police.
A spokesperson for the Special Investigations Unit confirmed they are involved in the investigation in connection to a shooting in Hamilton involving a Halton police officer.
A massive police scene had York Boulevard shut down and heavily armed tactical officers from at least four services - in addition to the SIU - on the road and in the cemetery. All of York Boulevard was blocked off by police from the Highway 403 off-ramp to Dundurn Street.
More than a dozen police vehicles were on scene from Toronto police, Hamilton police, Halton police and the OPP. Bergen says Peel Regional Police were also involved as the chase was unfolding.
Dozens of officers - some with high-powered rifles - combed through the cemetery. At least one K9 unit was also at the scene.
Within the five jurisdictions, all resources were put in play," Bergen said when asked if other special units were involved.
Minutes after the initial shooting, Peel police tweeted that the suspect - described as Black, with a thin build and black hair, wearing all black and a yellow construction vest - had fled the scene in a black Jeep Cherokee with licence plate number CLMZ905.
Around 2:50 p.m. in nearby Milton, Halton Region said one person was killed and two injured in a separate triple shooting on Bronte Street South.
The second shooting took place near an auto body shop. Police said one person was pronounced deceased at the scene and two others had been transported to hospital.
According to Halton police, the suspect in that shooting also fled in a black Jeep Cherokee with the same licence plate.
At 4:33 p.m., Halton police initially tweeted: Suspect has been located and is in police custody."
Former Toronto Police Service union president Craig Bromell, who was a police officer in Toronto between 1978 and 2004, said he knew Hong personally and by reputation.
He was a dedicated officer that got along with everybody. He's the type of police officer you want to show up when you need help. This is a massive loss."
In a statement, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said she was devastated and in utter shock."
Premier Doug Ford called the violence senseless," saying in a Tweet: Like all Ontarians, I'm horrified by today's senseless violence, including the killing of a Toronto police officer. I'm so grateful to law enforcement for bringing this situation to an end. May justice for those killed and injured be swift."
-With files from the Toronto Star
Susan Clairmont is a justice columnist at The Spectator. sclairmont@thespec.com