MSN NewsToronto police Chief Bill Blair says people “have every right to be concerned” after an 18-year-old man armed with a knife on a downtown streetcar was shot repeatedly and killed by police this weekend — an incident captured by amateur video.
Blair said he has seen the video, which was posted online.
“I am very aware that the public is very concerned about this tragic event,” he told media in a prepared statement. “They have every right to be concerned.”
Witnesses say Sammy Yatim was alone on the 505 Dundas streetcar near Trinity Bellwoods Park when he was shot just after midnight ET Saturday morning. He had pulled a knife and ordered everybody off the streetcar, witnesses say.
The video shows the stopped streetcar at a distance, with multiple police officers nearby, at least one with his hands raised to shoulder height.
Nine gunshots are heard within 13 seconds.
Blair said he knows the public has many questions after seeing the video.
“I am also seeking answers to those important questions,” he said. He promised an “unwavering commitment” to finding them.
The chief said he has asked deputy chief Mike Federico to reach out to the family.
“As a father, I can only imagine their terrible grief and their need for answers,” Blair said.
Police watchdog probing shooting
Blair did not take questions, noting that he is forbidden by law to interfere with the investigation of Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit.
“I regret that I’m unable to answer any of your questions,” he said. “The law is rather clear with respect to that.”
The SIU has begun an investigation of the incident, as it must under provincial law, and Blair promised to co-operate fully.
The chief said there will also be an internal investigation. Blair said he is required by law to review the policy, procedures and training of the service, and to see if they were followed.
A full report of the chief’s review must go to the police board within 30 days of the SIU’s report going to the province’s attorney general.
On Monday, the SIU issued a news release updating the public on the status of its investigation into the shooting.
The release said that Yatim sustained “multiple gunshot wounds” in the incident and also indicated that police had also used a stun gun.
The SIU said that it has identified a single subject officer and 22 witness officers.
The Ontario ombudsman also said in a tweet Monday that his office will be “reviewing” the shooting on Tuesday.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said it was a tragic situation and that her heart went out to the family, but that she couldn’t say more given the ongoing investigation.
On Twitter, Mike McCormack, the president of the Toronto Police Association, called on the public to wait for the results of the SIU investigation “before coming to conclusions” about what happened.
McCormack also tweeted that “police shootings are a tragedy for all involved,” and extended condolences to Yatim’s friends and family.
Security expert concerned
Ross McLean, a security expert and former Toronto police officer, studied a version of the video with enhanced video and audio, frame by frame.
He said it raises serious questions about how police handled the confrontation.
On the enhanced video, a six-second jolt from a Taser can be heard after the gunshots, McLean said. Yatim also appears to put his hands over his head at one point on the enhanced video, he said.
McLean says if the officers had waited another minute for the officer with the Taser to arrive instead of opening fire, Yatim might be alive today. “Should you be Tasering someone who’s been shot six or nine times and lying on the ground?” he told CBC News.
McLean says the video also suggests police did not engage the suspect.
“Your mouth is your best weapon,” he said.
The key is to communicate with and contain the suspect, he said.
“He was fairly contained. He was in the streetcar. He could have let that guy sit there all night.”
Police can be heard on the enhanced video saying “Drop the knife!” and “If you take one step in this direction, you’re finished,” McLean told CBC host Matt Galloway on Toronto’s morning radio program Metro Morning.
McLean said it’s unlikely that any of the nine shots were warning shots.
“This officer’s going to have to explain why he used the level of force he did,” McLean said.
Vigil today
A vigil for Yatim has been planned for 5 p.m. today at Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto.
The family, which moved to Toronto from Syria about five years ago, is hiring a lawyer and wonders how police could shoot him multiple times even after it appears he went down.
His sister, Sarah, said her family is in shock.
Yatim’s friends have posted their condolences for the recent high school graduate on social media, and Sarah has started a Facebook group that she hopes will help stop what she considers an injustice at the hands of police.
External Links
Toronto police Chief Bill Blair’s full statement
Special Investigations Unit statement
http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/toronto-police-chief-promises-answers-after-streetcar-killing
I live in Toronto Area. Here is the scam. Police get caught in drug virious related crimes, killing citizens un armed. Here is the kicker, cop is suspended with full benifits and pay. Under the laws of canada–speedy trial. If the case drags more than 8 months (Askov case) ,Bingo dismissed and back on the force. My neighbour Romanian cop–Envolved in millions of dollars in Coke and knowning 3 gang land shootings–draged his court case 3 years–back on force–dismissed.Another recent case–Cop chases young driver heads home-hides and father says-get lost–shot in the head-cop got his job back
What is needed Freedom of information request-how many pigs got their jobs back. Police operate on the same bases as military–scot free when the public forgets about it.
At least your country suspends them. Here, they give them a carton of Lucky Strikes & more ammo & teach them not to get caught again.
Bill Mr.G20 Blair will do nothing about this.
Are they bad shoots? Shoot a man x number of times and then taser him?
Pathetic
The ONLY reason any sort of attention is being given to this crime is because the video went public before it could be doctored or spun. The police chief will pay lip service to the media until it can be swept under the rug and disappeared like most crime committed by police.
The only way any sort of justice can be had is to have citizen review boards for every serious offense committed by a cop. No more cops investigating cops; they are NOT unbiased and it is in their best interest ( not the public’s) to cover up their crimes.
The words “Civilian Review Board” strikes TERROR within LEO ranks as long as the Board’s recommendations are enforced & the board is HONEST. Anything less, the Board’s status is nothing more than a joke.
Exactly. Houston PD has a citizen review board, every member of which is appointed by the mayor. The committee has no accountability. They only review police internal investigation findings and have no subpoena power or any authority whatsoever to call witnesses, review evidence, etc. They are not required to report publicly ever, and only make suggestions to the mayor and police chief. The public does not even learn what punishments are handed out by the police chief, and the committee and public are certainly not allowed to observe any interrogation interviews of offending police. It’s a farce and a slap in the face to the residents of the entire city.
So is it time to start killing pigs yet?
I did not see anyone actually being attacked. It also appeared a fair distance between ‘attacker’ and the shooters. i would have thought this would be a textbook taser/non lethal round situation.