Suspect charged after Oshawa shooting that injured officer and suspect

Durham Regional Police have charged a suspect after a weekend police shooting in Oshawa left a Durham officer and the suspect injured. The incident began on Sunday morning when officers responded to a call on Cedar Street.

Police say the call, described by the Special Investigations Unit as a "mental health call," was received at about 10:45 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a man armed with a knife. During the interaction, an officer and the suspect were shot by another Durham officer, the SIU said.

On Monday night Durham police announced charges against 27-year-old Tyler Vilneff. He faces counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon and having a weapon dangerous to the public peace, according to the police update.

The SIU reported the officer was taken to hospital in critical but stable condition. The suspect sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was also taken to hospital.

The Special Investigations Unit, which oversees incidents in Ontario involving police and serious injury or death, has taken carriage of the file. The SIU said it does not believe the suspect had a firearm at the scene.

Under provincial rules the SIU conducts an independent review to determine whether criminal charges are warranted against an officer. The agency gathers witness statements, video and physical evidence, and may interview involved officers and civilians. Outcomes can range from no charges to criminal charges against a responding officer, depending on findings.

Incidents involving police use of force, and especially those that follow mental-health calls, often prompt public questions about training, protocols and alternatives to armed response. The SIU process seeks to provide an independent account of the facts, but it does not replace internal reviews or possible policy examinations by the police service and local authorities.

Durham police typically do not release the names of involved officers while SIU investigations are under way. The agency will determine next steps based on its evidence. The public can expect updates if charges are recommended or if the SIU publishes a report.

The shooting occurred on Sunday at about 10:45 a.m. Charges against the suspect were announced the next evening. The SIU will continue its independent investigation, which may include forensic analysis, statements from witnesses and interviews with officers. There is no timetable for when the SIU will complete its review.

Anyone with information on the incident who has not already spoken with investigators can contact the SIU directly.

This developing story reflects an officer-involved shooting that began as a mental-health call and resulted in criminal charges for the suspected individual. The SIU review will determine whether further charges or other outcomes arise from the incident.