Police fatally shot a man who was “in distress” at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport this morning, sparking a major response as the airport was on lockdown.
A 30-year-old man was killed in the incident at the airport’s Terminal 1 Departures shortly before 7 .a.m. Thursday, authorities confirmed.
“Peel Regional Police officers were investigating a man in distress in an SUV at Terminal 1 departures,” Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit said in a statement. “Officers located the man and early information received indicates he produced a firearm. Three officers discharged their firearms at the man.”
The man was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The unit is investigating.
“This is an isolated incident and there are no known threats to public safety,” Peel Police said in a statement. No officers were injured during the incident.
Witnesses told Canadian media that gunshots were heard just before 7 a.m. outside departures. One traveler told CTV News he heard “loud, popping noises” near the terminal.
Authorities warned people to stay away from the major airport as paramedics worked at the scene.
One image from the scene shows what looks to be a grey SUV behind a police cordon, with several white evidence markers on the ground behind the vehicle, which has its trunk open.
Footage circulating on social media showed cars piling up toward departures.
“Due to a Peel Police investigation outside Terminal 1 departures, passengers and vehicles are being rerouted to enter and exit through T1 arrivals,” a statement from the airport said.
The airport confirmed that flights continue to operate normally at this time.
