Hamilton police shoot a man repeatedly, SIU investigating

Hamilton police shot and killed a man after a confrontation near the Upper Wentworth Street ramps to the Linc Friday morning.

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit is probing the death, in which a man was shot several times by police.

The SIU has assigned a nine-person team to the investigation, including six investigators and three forensic specialists "to probe the circumstances of this incident," officials said in a release.

A Hamilton police statement said officers were called to deal with a man wandering on the Linc just after 9:00 a.m. When police arrived, the man fled into a wooded area to the south of the intersection and officers followed. There was a confrontation that led to the SIU being called in.

In its release, the SIU says: "As a result of an ensuing interaction between police and the man, the man sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He has been pronounced deceased."

SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon wouldn't say if the man was armed or if he attacked an officer. "That's part of the investigation," she said.

Brenda Falcone lives about a dozen houses down from where the shooting took place. She told CBC Hamilton a friend of her daughter was sleeping over at house close to the wooded area when gunfire rang out.

"My daughter's friends heard an altercation, and then they heard gunshots. Quite a few gunshots, they said. It was very loud," Falcone said.

The SIU is called in whenever police officers are involved in incidents where someone has been seriously injured, dies or alleges sexual assault.

The Linc ramps remain closed in both directions at Upper Wentworth Street.

Did you see the incident that led to the SIU Investigation? Contact CBC Hamilton at [email protected]