Toronto Police Constable Marc Pinizzotto Fatally Shot During Raid Tied To US Consulate Shooting
Police cars, hundreds of members of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) and community members lined the streets of Toronto in an outpouring of support as the body of Constable Marc Pinizzotto arrived to the coroner’s office.
Pinizzotto, 43, was killed in an exchange of gunfire in a high-risk takedown June 11, TPS Chief Myron Demkiw said, according to CBC News. He said Pinizzotto was among other members of the emergency task force probing a number of shootings, including a March shooting at the U.S. consulate. The task force attended a residential building in the northwest end of the city at approximately 5:40 a.m., according to Special Investigations Unit spokeswoman Monica Hudon.
A city normally bustling with activity came to a standstill as hundreds lined the streets for the motorcade, showing their support and paying their respects to the fallen officer.
Hudon issued a statement to the press alleging that after a suspect opened fire and struck Pinizzotto at a fourth-floor apartment unit, another officer fired upon 19-year-old suspect several times. The unidentified suspect remains in hospital in critical condition, and four other people were inside the apartment unit when the fatal shooting occurred, according to the officer.
Police are also searching for a suspect identified as Zara Jabbi, 19-years of age, Demkiw said.
By 1 p.m., police cruisers, mounted officers and hundreds of uniformed police stood at attention in solidarity as the fallen officer’s remains were taken to the coroner’s office. Despite the 86-degree heat, they remained steadfast with tears streaming down their faces in an intensely emotional show of support. Members of the police force were seen embracing one another as they struggled to come to terms with this tragedy.
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A heartbreaking family photo of Pinizzotto with his wife and children was widely shared across social media, serving as a stark and devastating reminder of those left behind to mourn his loss. Sources told CP24 the fallen constable had a wife and two children, a boy and girl both aged 14.
Demkiw refered to Pinizzotto as “a hero in life, not death,” while fighting back tears in a press conference held outside Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, prior to the motorcade.
Pinizzotto was an 18-year veteran with the agency and served on the emergency task force (ETF) for the last five years he said.
“There’s a very heavy sorrow in our community right now,” Demkiw told the press.
“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.”
The impact on the community is palpable. The CN Tower announced that their ” lights will dim for the first five minutes of every hour in honour of @TorontoPolice Constable Marc Pinizzotto, who died in the line of duty,” in a touching tribute shared on X.
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