SIU clears Peel Police in fatal Pearson Airport shooting

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Ontario’s police watchdog has cleared Peel police officers of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old man at Toronto Pearson International Airport in April.The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on April 24, when police were called to check on a man in a parked SUV. According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the man appeared to be in crisis and refused to leave the vehicle.After speaking with him, officers said the man suddenly came out with what looked like a handgun and pointed it at police.Two officers fired a total of 18 rounds, the man collapsed and was later pronounced dead.The gun was found to be a replica, but SIU Director Joseph Martino said it looked real and officers had no way of knowing it wasn’t.“There can be no doubt that the officers reasonably believed they were about to be shot,” said Martino.The SIU also says the man may have been experiencing a mental health episode or drug-induced psychosis.Martino says the officers were under extreme stress and had only seconds to react.The SIU has closed the case with no charges laid.The SIU is an independent civilian agency that probes incidents where people died or were seriously injured. Investigators also review incidents where sexual assault has been alleged or a firearm was discharged at a person.