3 OPP officers charged with manslaughter in toddler's shooting death

Ontario's police watchdog says it has charged three officers in the shooting death of a one-year-old boy.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) had been investigating after it said Ontario Provincial Police officers shot at the boy's father in his car in Kawartha Lakes, Ont., after he allegedly abducted his child on Nov. 26, 2020.

The child, identified by the SIU as 18-month-old Jameson Shapiro, died that day, while the father died of gunshot wounds about a week later.

The SIU says three OPP constables Nathan Vanderheyden, Kenneth Pengelly and Grayson Cappus have each been charged with one count of manslaughter and one count of criminal negligence causing death in relation to the boy's death.

The agencyhad previously said evidence suggested police gunfire killedboth the boy and his father.

Police have said they found four guns at the scene, three belonging to the officers and one found near the father's truck.

OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique extended sympathies to the family in a statement Wednesday, saying it is "devastating when an innocent life is lost during an incident."

Carrique said the OPP would not comment further as the case works its way through the courts.

'A tragic circumstance'

Rob Stinson, president of the Ontario Provincial Police Association the union that represents nearly 10,000 OPP members said in a statement the "incident is a tragic circumstance for all involved."

"We are fully supporting our members charged and our officers and civilian staff affected, with some still off work," the statement continues.

"It has impacted many people, families, first responders, and our members. Every single day police officers make split-second decisions that most will never have to make and wouldn't want to make," Stinson wrote.

"This case is now before the courts. Everyone is entitled to due process. Our members have cooperated with the investigation in accordance with the law."

In January of 2021, the SIU said the three officers who opened fire had not agreed to be interviewed, and were under no legal obligation to do so. At the time, the SIU had interviewed 18 police officers and 14 civilians as part of its investigation.

The SIU said Wednesday it would not comment further on the investigation, with the case before the court.

The probe was at one point put on hold while the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted ballistic testing.

The charged officers are set to appear in court inLindsay, Ont.,on Oct.6.