2 weeks Ago By Mia Ping-Chieh Chen
A 30-year-old man was shot and killed by police Thursday morning outside Toronto Pearson International Airport, Ontario authorities confirmed. The incident occurred around 7:00 local time, when officers responded to reports of a "man in distress" in an SUV at Terminal 1, Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in a press release Peel Regional Police, who arrived on the scene, said that the man "had produced a firearm," prompting three officers to fire in response. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and no officers were injured.
The SIU is now investigating the shooting. What Happened At Toronto’s Pearson Airport? The shooting unfolded in the departure area of Terminal 1, which is one of the busiest sections of the airport. Three Peel Regional Police officers were called to the scene around 06:56 after a 911 call about a man in distress.
Chief Nishan Duraiappah said that officers spent approximately 10 minutes attempting to resolve a dispute involving the man and two or three others, according to Canada's CBC News . Duraiappah said the group knew each other and were there "for the purposes of travel." During this time, one of the individuals suddenly drew a firearm, prompting officers to engage.
The Special Investigations Unit spokesperson for the province, Kristy Denette, informed reporters that the man was in the back seat of a Jeep Cherokee when officers first arrived at the scene, but was outside the vehicle when the fatal shooting took place, according to CTV News . According to the SIU, two of the officers opened fire on the individual. CBC reported the guy was "in distress" and brandished a firearm, but did not discharge it before being shot dead by police at Pearson Airport, according to a Thursday media update from Ontario's Special Investigations Unit.
"No police officers were injured and there is no known threat to the public," SIU said in the press release. Investigation Underway Police tape and evidence markers were seen next to a black SUV with its trunk open after the incident, according to the Associated Press . A corpse on the sidewalk seemed to be covered by a yellow sheet.
The SIU has confirmed that the situation was isolated and posed no ongoing threat to the public. According to the press release, six investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to investigate this case. Pearson Airport said that flights continued to operate normally despite the ongoing investigation.
The incident caused temporary road closures around Terminal 1. The airport rerouted passengers to Terminal 1 Arrivals via roadway or the Link Train from Terminal 3 or Viscount Kiss & Fly, as the roadway to Terminal 1 Departures remained closed for the Peel Police investigation. The BBC reported that buses to the airport were initially rerouted for a short period of time, and Toronto's public transit authority has confirmed that normal service has resumed.
Multiple flights had to turn around and head home while flying to Canada from Europe. Passenger Rerouting : Passengers were redirected to Terminal 1 Arrivals via roadway or the Link Train from Terminal 3 or Viscount Kiss & Fly. Temporary Road Closures : Road access to Terminal 1 Departures was closed due to the police investigation.
Transit Disruptions : Buses to the airport were briefly rerouted, but normal service resumed shortly after. Questions Remain About The Incident The road to Terminal 1 departures has completely reopened for both parking and passenger drop-off as of Thursday afternoon, according to CTV News. Currently, the man's identification remains unknown, and SIU said it's too early to say how many shots were fired.
The SIU also said an autopsy will be conducted on Friday morning. Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed concern over the incident, condemning the shooting. " What's the world coming to? You go to the airport and there's shootings happening," Ford said when attending an unrelated event.
Toronto Pearson has had a difficult history with high-profile incidents this year. In February 2025, a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis had to make an emergency landing at Pearson after skidding off the runway ..
