Shooting Incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport
Photo: Daniel Case | Wikimedia Commons
On April 24, a 30-year-old man was shot and killed by police at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport near Terminal 1 departures. The incident occurred as Peel Regional Police officers responded to reports of a “man in distress” in an SUV at the terminal.
According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the shooting happened after police were called to the scene due to a “dispute.” After several minutes of de-escalation attempts, the situation escalated when the man produced a firearm, prompting officers to open fire.
Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah addressed the media, stating:
“Abruptly, one of the individuals produced a firearm at our officers,” confirming that the man pointed his gun at the police. In response, two officers on the scene discharged their weapons”
The man was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Fortunately, no officers were injured during the incident.
Kristy Denette, a spokeswoman was quoted to have said:
“The man was with family members, but she couldn’t say whether there was a dispute among people or possibly a mental health crisis, noting that “the gentleman was kind of in a mental distress.”
Aftermath of the Shooting
Photo: Sdkb | Wikimedia Commons
In the wake of the shooting, Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) reported that flights continued to operate normally. However, the Ontario Provincial Police advised drivers and commuters to “avoid the area” as a precaution. Initial reports indicated that bus services to the airport were rerouted.
Social Media responses about the incident
Some of the responses of people through social media
X user pegida canada shared a video of a traffic jam near terminal 1 with the caption Toronto Pearson International Airport – unofficially paramedics seen performing CPR on one person in cuticle condition.
Travelers were forced to abandon their cars and walk to terminal one and also add that one witness described hearing “loud popping noises” near baggage claim.
Peel Police regional police also shared a post in x about the event:
https://x.com/PeelPolice/status/1915380409791021183?t=cj5zYZB80TsLugtH-JPH5g&s=19
Recent accidents near the Toronto Pearson Airport
A Bombardier CRJ 900 operated by Delta Airlines
A few months ago, Delta Airlines plane 4819, which had 76 passengers and 4 crew members onboard, crash landed at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. Though the crash, which involved the aircraft skidding along the runway in flames before flipping over, had left 18 persons injured, it was devoid of casualties.
How the situation has unfolded so far
The recent shooting incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport has raised concerns about safety and security, especially at a major airport that serves over 40 million passengers annually. When an eye witness reports to have heard ten loud bangs while coming to drop a friend and seeing a man draped in blood, one knows that the situation was a dire one, with BBC even reporting that the “incident temporarily sparked travel chaos at Canada’s busiest airport“.