Toronto Police Service says that three people are facing multiple firearms-related charges after a Toronto Police investigation led to a police-involved shooting in Mississauga that left a 19-year-old driver dead.
Toronto Police released the information today and said officers commenced investigating a report of a person with a gun near The Esplanade and Lower Jarvis Street on Aug. 5. Investigators identified a suspect vehicle and tracked it to Mississauga, where officers attempted to stop it. Police allege the driver tried to flee and struck a plainclothes officer.
A police officer then discharged a firearm into the suspect vehicle. The 19-year-old driver was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. This incident is now under investigation by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit because of being a police-involved shooting.
The SIU said multiple unmarked police vehicles collided with the Mercedes involved, and an officer fired into the vehicle, fatally wounding the 19-year-old driver. Three other occupants were arrested, while one officer suffered minor injuries. The SIU has since clarified the Mercedes had not been reported stolen but was being tracked as part of the firearms investigation.
Toronto Police have charged Naquon Laidley, 23, of Toronto, and Kahiem Bailey-Whitfield, 19, of Mississauga, with numerous firearms offences, including possessing loaded prohibited or restricted firearms, occupying a motor vehicle with firearms and careless handling of firearms and ammunition. A 17-year-old girl, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, faces similar charges.
The SIU investigation into the fatal police shooting remains ongoing.