Canadian cops accused in toddler’s shooting death: In the November 2020 shooting death of an 18-month-old toddler, three Canadian police officers have accused.
Following a nearly two-year investigation by Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigation Unit, the charges made public (SIU).
Following an allegation of parental kidnapping, police opened fire on the vehicle driven by Jameson Shapiro’s father, killing him.
According to the police union, the three officers have “full backing.”
The SIU reported on Wednesday night that OPP Constables Nathan Vanderheyden, Kenneth Pengelly, and Grayson Campus each charged with one count of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death in connection with the killing of Jameson.
On October 6, they expect to appear in court.
The incident happened on November 26, 2020, in the early morning hours, according to a caller who said the boy’s 33-year-old father had kidnapped him from his house in Trent Lakes, Ontario, a community located approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) northeast of Toronto.
In neighboring Kawartha Lakes, OPP police saw the pickup vehicle Jameson’s father was operating. Unfortunately, an accident occurred while trying to halt the car, critically injuring one police officer.
The three police officers then allegedly engaged in an “interaction” with the father before starting to shoot.
After shot, the father passed away in the hospital. Jameson, riding in the truck, shot and passed away there.
According to the SIU’s report from February 2021, the kid shot by police, according to the forensic evidence.
Three police pistols and one handgun from the pickup truck were among the four weapons the SIU reported find at the site during its investigation.
The union representing the three cops described the event as “a terrible scenario for everybody concerned” in a statement.
According to Rob Stinson, president of the OPP Association, “police officers make split-second choices every single day that most people would never have to make and would not want to make.”
“The courts are now hearing this matter. Everyone has the right to a fair trial.”
In a statement, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said it is “devastating when an innocent life is lost during an incident”. He added that the force would not make any more comments while the matter is in court.
