The book is officially closed on a chaotic police shooting.

The Halton Police Services Board accepted a report on Oct. 31 recommending no further action be taken on a Sept. 22, 2018 incident that left one man dead and two officers wounded at an Esso gas station at Burlington’s Appleby Line and Harvester Road.

The Special Investigations Unit declared the fatal shooting, “proportionate, reasonably necessary and justifiable under law. No charges will issue and the file will be closed.”

Just before 5 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2018, police were called to a two-vehicle collision on the QEW near Burloak Drive. One of the drivers had fled from the collision and was located in the washroom of the nearby gas station.

Police officers stood outside the washroom and tried to convince the man to come out. He refused and could be heard speaking to someone on a cellphone.

A search of the vehicle revealed clothing that led police to believe the man had gang affiliations, the report said. There was also a lot of blood notably around the rear console.

The man became increasingly agitated while the officers attempted to get him out of the washroom. He swore at them and said, “I will go to heaven before I ever come out to police,” according to the report.

Police released pepper spray under the door and the man persisted in refusing to come out.

When police broke the door with a pry bar and sledgehammer, they saw the man sitting beside the sink with a handgun pointed toward the officers. He fired multiple shots through the wall and open door striking one officer twice in the thigh and causing wounds to the other officer's leg and thumb.

Police retreated toward the front entrance attempting to take cover. They were unable to leave the station as the door had been locked and could only be opened by a button underneath the counter.

The man exited the washroom and ran along a row of coolers at the back of the store as police fired at him. He crouched and fell forward on to his stomach where he became motionless. Police found a black handgun near the body with no bullets remaining.

When paramedics reached the body, he had no pulse and it was determined he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.

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RC Roland Cilliers is a general assignment reporter for InsideHalton.com and its sister papers. Reach him via email: rcilliers@metroland.com

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