Nearly Two Weeks Later, Identity of Man Killed in Bruce County Police Shooting Remains Unconfirmed
Twelve days after a fatal police shooting in Bruce County, authorities have not publicly identified the 48-year-old man killed during an OPP encounter now under SIU investigation.
Nearly two weeks after a fatal police shooting in rural Bruce County, authorities have yet to publicly identify the man who was killed or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) say the matter remains under investigation and have declined to confirm the man’s identity.
The shooting occurred Feb. 21 after OPP officers encountered a 48-year-old man in the area of Sideroad 13 and Bruce-Saugeen Townline.
In its initial Feb. 22 release, the SIU said preliminary information suggested the man had allegedly been involved in multiple incidents earlier that day, including motor vehicle thefts and residential break-and-enters, as well as the alleged theft of a firearm.
Police later located him driving a reportedly stolen vehicle and deployed a tire deflation device. The vehicle left the roadway, and the man fled on foot.
According to the SIU, the man was later located outside a residence in the rural area, where he confronted officers. One officer discharged a firearm, striking him. He was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Family seeking answers
A woman who identified herself to Owen Sound Current as the deceased man’s fiancée said she has been seeking clarity about the circumstances surrounding the shooting since being notified of his death.
She said she believes he had visited a local hospital earlier that day and was experiencing a mental health crisis. The woman said she does not understand what happened after that visit or how the situation escalated to the incidents that followed, and is waiting for more information from investigators.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed the circumstances leading up to the fatal encounter with police.
She also provided the name of the man she said was killed. However, authorities have not publicly confirmed the identity of the deceased.
Speculation online, but no official confirmation of man’s identity
In the absence of further official updates, speculation about the identity of the deceased has circulated on social media.
Owen Sound Current asked both the OPP and the SIU to confirm the man’s identity. As of March 5, neither agency had publicly done so.
The OPP said they are not in a position to comment.
“This matter is an SIU investigation. As such, it isn’t appropriate for the OPP to comment on another organization’s investigation,” OPP West Region Media Relations Coordinator Derek Rogers said in an email Monday.
An SIU spokesperson told Owen Sound Current that “as per the SIU Act, we cannot identify any individual involved in an SIU investigation.”
In response to a follow-up email asking for clarification as to who would be responsible for confirming the man’s identity, Rogers stated: “The release of the name, or confirmation of the name you supplied, will have to come from the SIU. This is standard procedure for SIU investigations.”
The SIU has assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case. The agency states on its website that it aims to keep the public informed about active investigations by providing updates on an ongoing basis.
As of March 5, however, no additional updates have been issued, and the SIU has not indicated when further information — including the man’s identity — may be released.
SIU investigations typically take several months to complete. According to the agency’s most recent annual report, cases closed in 2024–2025 took an average of approximately 135 days overall, with most concluded within four months.
The SIU is an independent civilian agency that investigates incidents involving police where there has been death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault.
At the conclusion of its investigation, the SIU may lay charges if it determines there are reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence was committed, or it may close the file with a public summary of its findings.
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