A small community north of Toronto is in shock Wednesday after police identified an officer who worked with mental health and outreach teams and a veteran officer trained in hostage negotiations as the victims of a fatal shooting Tuesday .
The South Simcoe Police Service identified Const. Morgan Russell and Const. Devon Northrup as officers killed.
“Words cannot describe our pain,” said Interim Chief John Van Dyke.
Van Dyke said officers responded to a call at a home near 25th Sideroad and 9th Line shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday. Police have not said what the initial call was for.
According to police, two officers were shot inside the home. A 23-year-old suspect was also shot and killed. Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said it will not release the suspect’s identity at this time.
CBC Toronto has learned that Donna Rose Doncaster, 76, and Glen Doncaster, 83, own the home where the shooting took place. Their grandson, Christopher Joseph Doncaster, whose 23rd birthday is October 23, lives with them.
Police said Northrup died at a local hospital while Russell died after being airlifted to a Toronto trauma center in critical condition.
Northrup, 33, was a six-year service member assigned to the community engagement and mobilization unit. He also served as a member of the Mental Health Crisis Outreach Team and Emergency Response Unit. He is survived by his partner, parents and close friends in the service, Van Dyke said.
Russell, 54, was a 33-year veteran of the service and a trained crisis negotiator assigned to uniform patrol. He is survived by his wife and two grown children.
Van Dyke said Russell’s death was “personal” to him.
“I went to police college with Morgan 33 years ago,” the acting chief said, his voice wavering.
“This is a heartbreaking time for our police service.”
The service’s immediate goal is to support its grieving members and families, Van Dyke said. A community vigil is being held at Innisfil Community Church on Wednesday evening to honor Russell and Northrup.
The service asked York Regional Police to conduct an investigation, adding that the Ontario Special Investigations Unit has invoked its mandate.
“So I’m very limited in the information we can share,” Van Dyke said.
SIU, York Regional Police is investigating
The SIU is now investigating the incident, which happens when a person is seriously injured or killed as a result of a police interaction. In a press release, the Ontario police watchdog said it has assigned a total of nine investigators to the case.
The SIU said, based on preliminary information, officers were called to a residence “for a disturbance.” Kristy Denette, SIU spokeswoman, said Wednesday that family members called police to the residence.
They exchanged gunfire with a 23-year-old man who died at the scene, according to the SIU. He later said the weapon the suspect used was an SKS semi-automatic rifle.
Denette says the watchdog will not release the 23-year-old suspect’s identity unless his family gives consent to make it public.
“In this circumstance, the man’s family has not consented to his name being released,” Denette said.
Flowers left in memory of two fallen police officers lie at the scene where two police officers were killed in Innisfil, Ontario on October 12, 2022. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)
An autopsy on the man is scheduled for Friday, he said, and until then the investigation continues, with York Regional Police conducting a separate investigation into the shooting.
The two South Simcoe officers are the third and fourth police officers to die in the province in the past month.
On Sept. 12, Toronto Police Const. Andrew Hong was killed in what police called an “ambush” during a series of shootings that killed two others and wounded three others.
On Sept. 14, York Regional Police Const. Travis Gillespie died at the scene of a head-on car crash.
The two agents were buried at the end of last month.
Neighbors, town shaken by a shot
Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin said South Simcoe police are “beloved” in small towns like Innisfil. The city is located south of Barrie and is home to over 43,300 people.
“To say the community is devastated would be an understatement,” Dollin said.
“It’s a dark day and it’s going to take us a long time to process, but we’ll be there to support our colleagues in South Simcoe Police and we’ll be there to support the families and friends affected.”
Police and SIU investigators gather at the scene where two police officers were killed in Innisfil, Ontario on October 12, 2022. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)
Michele Bannister has been living on the streets for 26 years. He told CBC News that a couple lived in the house where the shooting happened with their grandchildren, whom they raised. Bannister described the couple as “very good people”. He says the 23-year-old man shot and killed by police was his grandson. CBC News has not independently confirmed this.
“We’re heartbroken,” said Bannister, who was watching TV with her daughter Brelyn when they first heard the sirens.
Both mother and daughter said they saw the man’s older sister, who had previously moved out, on Tuesday night, shouting: “That’s my brother.”
“It was like something out of a movie,” Brelyn said.
Kevin, a neighbor who CBC News agreed to identify only by name due to privacy concerns, said he first thought he was hearing fireworks Tuesday evening before realizing it was actually half a dozen shots.
“I went outside … and it was pandemonium,” he said.
Kevin says he saw police officers treating injured people and saw those people being taken off the street in ambulances.
“It was pretty traumatic,” she said, noting that the street is usually “very safe” and everyone looks out for each other.
“It’s going to be tough on our little community here,” he said. “Everybody will be reeling.”
The South Simcoe Police Service says two of its officers were shot while responding to a call in Innisfil, Ont. Both have since died. (David Ritchie/CBC News)
Premier Doug Ford visited the South Simcoe Police Detachment in Innisfil on Wednesday afternoon to show his support.
“It’s very sad. It’s a senseless tragedy,” Ford said.
“I come from a police family and the sacrifices they make – they’re in danger like everyone else is ending up.”
Police services from multiple jurisdictions, along with the OPP, Toronto Paramedic Services and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, took to social media to express their condolences.
“I offer our deepest condolences to the families of these two fallen officers,” wrote Toronto Police Chief James Ramer.