Niagara Regional Police Service responded to a call at about 8 p.m. concerning a man holed up in a building, alone, in Pelham, a town of about 16,500 some 11 kilometres from Welland. It’s unclear if shots were fired before police arrived on scene, but there was an exchange of gunfire that began shortly after they arrived.
One of the responding officers was hit three times by bullets, the other once, in the foot. A police spokesperson said that neither of the officers had life-threatening injuries but the officer shot three times was operated on and is listed in serious condition. No one else was shot.
After the two officers were hit there was more shooting before the suspect was finally taken into custody. Due to his wounds he was also taken to hospital for treatment; there is no word on his condition.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SUI) has launched an investigation; the SUI looks into all incidents in which there has been a police shooting.
The chief of the Niagara Police Region, Jeff McGuire, used twitter to pass on information and thank the public for concern expressed to them on social media.
“Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers as we deal with 2 @NiagRegPolice officers injured on duty in Welland tonight,” Chief McGuire wrote.
