Peel police say a 24-year-old man from Brampton is in custody after firing a gun at an officer in Mississauga, Ont., on Sunday morning.
In a news release Sunday, Peel Regional Police said officers were conducting patrols in the area of Torbram Road and Lucknow Drive when they saw a “suspicious man” fleeing a nearby establishment.
He was wearing a mark around his chin and jumping fences, according to Peel police. An officer located the man walking southbound on Torbram Road and attempted to speak with him, but he fled on foot.
During the pursuit, the man pulled out a firearm and fired it multiple times toward an officer, Peel police said in Sunday’s release.
The officer was not struck and did not suffer any injuries. Additional officers responded to the scene and two of them sustained minor injuries during the incident, Peel police said Sunday.
The man was then arrested and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. After being cleared by hospital staff, the man was taken into police custody.
In Sunday’s news release, Peel police said the man was under multiple court-ordered firearm prohibitions stemming from previous firearm-related convictions, including a lifetime prohibition from possessing any prohibited or restricted firearms and a 10-year prohibition from possessing any firearm.
As a result of Sunday’s incident, the man has been charged with discharging a firearm with intent and possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.
Police said the incident does not fall under the mandate of the Special Investigations Unit.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The incident comes after the recent deaths of two Ontario police officers in separate incidents this month.
Toronto police Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, was shot and killed on June 11 while officers executed a search warrant at a North York apartment building. Investigators said the warrant was connected to a series of shootings, including a March attack on the U.S. Consulate in Toronto.
A 19-year-old suspect has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.
Days earlier, on June 9, Ontario Provincial Police Const. Tarun Bali, 29, was killed in the Hearst area after being struck by a vehicle while officers conducted an investigation.
An 18-year-old man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, dangerous driving and flight from police.
“This is another stark reminder of the dangers our officers face every day while on the front lines working to keep our communities safe,” Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in Sunday’s release. “This is another example of the cycle of violent crime that continues to impact our communities and must be stopped.”
Duraiappah added the service is grateful the officer was not seriously injured.
“We continue to advocate for stronger bail and sentencing to better manage repeat violent offenders like this and reduce the risk they pose to our communities,” he said.