Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating a fatal police-involved shooting that happened in Haliburton County on Wednesday (July 15), following a mask-related incident at a Minden grocery store earlier in the day.
The shooting resulted in the death of a 73-year-old man.
According to the OPP, the shooting occurred in the area of Indian Point Road in the Eagle Lake area, off Harburn Road in the municipality of Dysart at al, east of the village of Haliburton.
At around 8 a.m., the OPP received a call about a disturbance at Easton’s Valu-Mart grocery store on Highway 35 in Minden, around 40 kilometres away from the site of the shooting.
Witnesses say a man assaulted a store employee who asked the man to put on a face mask, as is required by the local health unit. He reportedly then crashed his vehicle into the store before driving away.
Follow-up investigation led police to an address on Indian Point Road in the Eagle Lake area. During the investigation, shots were fired which caused the responding police to request additional officers.
Further confrontation between police and the man resulted in him being injured. He was transported to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injury.
Police closed Harburn Road at around 11 a.m. where witnesses report seeing an ambulance arrive.
As of 2 p.m., the OPP said there was no longer concern for public safety but are requesting residents stay away from the the area of Indian Point Road.
Police are currently investigating a serious criminal matter near the Village of #Haliburton. Currently there is no concerns for public safety. Please remain away from Indian Point Road near Eagle Lake until police complete this investigation. ^jf pic.twitter.com/ecncyluG1W
— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) July 15, 2020
As the SIU is now investigating, the OPP will be providing no further information on the incident.
This story has been updated with further information from the OPP.
