Suspect shot in stabbing death of Toronto officer: police

A 27-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in the stabbing death of a police officer on Toronto's west side last week, according to Toronto police.

The fight happened around 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot in the area of ​​College Street and Lansdowne Avenue.

A spokesman for the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) previously said Toronto police were initially called to the area for a report of a man in crisis.

Officers found the man outside a Tim Horton's in the crosswalk and attempted to detain him under the Mental Health Act, the SIU said.

According to the provincial police watchdog, a struggle between the man and two responding officers with Tasers was unsuccessful.

During the fight, the man pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the officers, the MIA said. The wounded officer shot the man once, an SIU spokesman told reporters Friday.

Toronto police, along with paramedics and firefighters, work at the scene of a stabbing of a police officer and shooting of a suspect, Friday, April 12, 2024, in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlene McAdory

The wounded officer and man were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police told CP24 on Monday that the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Gabriel Escairo, has been charged in connection with the stabbing.

He was charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer, two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault on a peace officer, four counts of failure to comply with a release order and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, police said.

The incident comes days after Toronto police said two officers were injured in separate attacks in the city on Tuesday night. The Toronto Police Association (TPA) said earlier this week on CP24, one of the officers suffered a serious leg injury and had to undergo surgery.