Ontario watchdog says police had no choice but to shoot in fatal Toronto raid

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said in a report released Oct 9 that the suspect fired several times at police, and that the officers who fired back were defending themselves. It found no basis for criminal charges against the officer who shot the suspect.

Police forced their way into an apartment near Black Creek Drive and Trethewey Drive around 5:40 a.m. on Jun 11, in an investigation into several shootings, including one at the U.S. consulate in March.

The suspect shot Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, in the arm and chest at close range, and the officer died in hospital. Within seconds, another officer fired his rifle through a wall, seriously injuring the suspect.

Put simply, nothing short of a firearm had the stopping power required of the moment.

— Joseph Martino, SIU director

Nicholas Bennett, 19, is charged with first-degree murder in Pinizzotto's death. The allegation has not been proven in court.