A 12-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a stolen vehicle struck a Toronto police officer during a dramatic overnight incident in East York.
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Police say officers were called to the area near Donlands and O’Connor Drive just after 1am following reports of a car theft.
According to the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the situation escalated when two police cruisers attempted to box in the stolen vehicle on the Leaside Bridge. As the driver tried to flee, he struck an officer who was outside his patrol car.
The SIU said the officer discharged his firearm “multiple” times in an attempt to stop the vehicle, which also had two other occupants aged 12 and 13. It remains unclear whether the shots were fired before or after the officer was hit.
“So, it’s not yet confirmed the nature of the boy’s injuries. Now the injury could be from a bullet, could be a graze, could be glass from the vehicle. We don’t yet know that, but what we do know is it’s non-life-threatening injuries at this point,” Kristy Denette, SIU spokesperson, said.
The stolen vehicle was later abandoned at Donlands and Floyd Avenues. The driver was arrested on foot nearby at Donlands and Mortimer Avenues. He was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. It is still unclear whether those injuries were caused by gunfire.
One occupant of the vehicle remains outstanding, police said.
The officer who was struck was taken to hospital with serious injuries but has since been discharged. The bullets struck the stolen vehicle during efforts to stop it, though the exact number of shots fired has not been established.
The accused cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. They face multiple charges including attempted murder, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of property over $5,000, dangerous operation of a vehicle, failing to stop for police, assaulting a peace officer and leaving the scene of an accident.
