

Paul Johnston, CP24.com





The province’s police watchdog continues to investigate after two men were shot in The Annex Tuesday afternoon.

It happened on Bedford Road, north of Bloor Street, shortly after 3:30 p.m.

According to the Special Investigations Unit, a 66-year-old criminal defence lawyer was shot as he was in the driveway of his office located at 23 Bedford Rd.

Lawyer Clayton Ruby told CTV Toronto that the man shot was Randall Barrs earlier Tuesday.

He was transported to hospital with gunshot wounds to his legs.

The gunman was subsequently shot by a plainclothes Halton police officer, the SIU’s Jason Gennaro said in an update provided on the investigation Tuesday night.

Several plainclothes Halton police officers were “conducting surveillance in the area” at the time of the initial shooting, Gennaro said.

“I cannot be more specific about that at the moment,” he said.

He would not confirm if the surveillance was connected to the 51-year-old gunman.

He would also not speak to witness accounts that approximately 20 plainclothes officers were in the area at the time.

The gunman was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery. He is currently listed in serious condition.

The SIU has designated one subject officer and four witness officer to the investigation. Eight investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.

Bedford Road remains closed north of Bloor Street as police continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 800-787-8529.

The SIU is an arms-length provincial agency that investigates all police interactions that involve death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.