Posted on 06/11/2026 8:36:31 PM PDT by jerod
Officers carried out search warrant at residential building Thursday morning, prior to shooting
A 19-year-old will be charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Toronto police constable shot in an exchange of gunfire in the city's northwest end Thursday morning, police say.
The shooting happened as officers were conducting an investigation linked to several other incidents involving firearms around the Greater Toronto Area, Toronto police Chief Demkiw said, including one that took place at the U.S. consulate in March.
Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, was "a hero in life, not death," Demkiw said at a news conference outside Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Pinizzotto was an 18-year veteran of the force who spent the last five years on the emergency task force (ETF), he said.
"There's a very heavy sorrow in our community right now," Demkiw told reporters through tears.
Special Investigations Unit spokesperson Monica Hudon said an "exchange of gunfire" broke out while police were carrying out a search warrant at a residential building near Tretheway Drive and Black Creek Drive around 5:40 a.m.
The police watchdog is investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting and officer's death.
"No words can capture the impact on Marc's family, who expected him to come home today," Demkiw said. "We are doing everything we can to support them at this difficult time."
A procession was held from Sunnybrook to the chief coroner's office at 1 p.m., according to a news release by Toronto police.
Hudon said police executed several search warrants at a building in the area Thursday morning. At an apartment unit on the fourth floor, a suspect discharged a firearm and hit an officer, she said.
Another officer then shot multiple times at the 19-year-old suspect, Nicholas Bennett of Toronto, who is in hospital in critical condition, Hudon said. Bennett will be charged with first-degree murder of Pinizzotto.
She said four other people were in the apartment unit at the time...
Const. Marc Pinizzotto is pictured here with his wife and children. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said Thursday that the family's grief is shared by the people of Toronto. (Toronto Police Service)
I’ll volunteer to console the wife (too soon?)
Sounds like you’re not as happily married as your profile asserts.
Death is just too funny not to act like a jerk..
That is a tad crass... Besides... His fellow officers will surely fill in and console her as much as they possibly can ;-).
A 19 year old will be charged. A 19 year old what? Who?
With a name like fidelis, I can see why you wouldn’t like that joke 😊
per AI
...Trethewey Drive and Black Creek Drive have higher crime rates compared to some nearby neighborhoods, with Black Creek experiencing a significant number of reported incidents, including violent crimes and property crimes. In contrast, neighborhoods like Lambton Baby Point have much lower crime rates, making them safer in comparison...
I believe a lot of blix folks and unruly migrants populate that neighbourhood
That’s a disgusting comment to make for the tragic circumstances that have occurred here. Marc was an amazing person.... whole family and their impact on the community was outstanding. https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/marc-pinizzotto-mom-toronto-cop-family-torn-apart-line-of-duty-death
Me culpa. No excuses, poor judgement, I apologize.
Good move. I suggest you also hit abuse on that comment so that it will be removed.
Well, we’ve all uttered words at some point in our life that we’d like to stuff back into our mouth... Mea culpa accepted.
Done. Thanks laz, didn’t think to do that as I have never put myself in this position before.
Appreciate your grace.
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