Toronto police officer shot while investigating robbery in Yonge-Eglinton

A Toronto police officer is in the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being shot on Wednesday while investigating a vehicle suspected to be involved in multiple robberies.

The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue. The officer was immediately taken to the hospital, where he is currently recovering, according to police.

A police source revealed that officers from 53 Division's major crime unit had been monitoring a parked vehicle they believed was linked to the robberies. After several hours of surveillance with no one returning to the vehicle, officers called for a tow truck. However, before it arrived, several individuals approached the vehicle. When officers attempted to make arrests, gunfire was exchanged, and one officer was struck in the abdomen, the source said.

The shooter fled the scene, and the name and photo of the suspect were shared with police across the city. Later that day, the suspect was arrested when officers from 41 Division recognized him at Michael Garron Hospital in the city’s east end. It remains unclear why the suspect was at the hospital, the source added.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontario’s police watchdog, is now investigating the incident since a police officer discharged a firearm. In a statement released Thursday, the SIU provided a brief timeline of the events, stating that two officers were investigating a robbery when two men approached. "One of the men shot an officer and fled," the statement said, adding that a second officer fired at the suspect but did not hit him.

A spokesperson from the Toronto Police Association (TPA) said the injured officer, 29, is in "good spirits" and remains in the hospital. The officer has served on the force for five and a half years.

Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw, speaking outside Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, emphasized the dangers officers face in the city. "This is the 637th time a police officer has been injured in Toronto this year," Demkiw said. He expressed relief that the officer is "doing well" after being shot in the abdomen and surrounded by family and colleagues during this challenging time.

Nick Leung, a nearby resident, described witnessing the aftermath of the shooting, stating he saw a police officer sprint into a laneway in pursuit of the suspect but returning in frustration after being unable to catch him.

Following the incident, politicians responded on X (formerly Twitter). Mayor Olivia Chow wished the officer a speedy recovery, acknowledging the daily risks faced by frontline officers. MP Marco Mendicino expressed concern and prayers for the officer and first responders involved. Ontario's solicitor general, Michael Kerzner, also condemned the violence, stating, "Violence against police officers is never acceptable."