Toronto officer killed during raid tied to U.S. Consulate shooting

A Toronto police officer was shot and killed while executing a search warrant tied to a series of shootings, including the March shooting on the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, according to officials. One suspect was shot by police and arrested, while another suspect remains at large.

Constable Marc Pinizzotto, 43, was shot early Thursday while members of the Toronto Police Service were carrying out one of five coordinated search warrants in the area of Black Creek Drive and Trethewey Drive.

Toronto police said Pinizzotto, a member of the Emergency Task Force, was shot and given emergency care by tactical paramedics and rushed to a local hospital, where he later died. He had served with Toronto police for 18 years, including 5 years with the Emergency Task Force.

An officer fired multiple times at the suspect, identified by police as Nicholas Bennett, 19, of Toronto. Bennett remains in hospital and will be charged with first-degree murder in connection with Pinizzotto’s death, police said.

Toronto police said another suspect, 19-year-old Zara Jabbi, remains at large and is wanted in connection with the U.S. Consulate shooting. Police said he is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

Four other people were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting, according to CBC, citing the Special Investigations Unit. No further details about them were immediately released.

Police said the warrants were part of an investigation into several shootings, including the March 10 shooting at the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue in downtown Toronto. In that incident, two men got out of a white Honda CR-V and fired multiple rounds at the building before driving away, police said at the time.

The gunfire damaged the consulate’s glass and front door, but no injuries were reported. Police said the case was being treated as a national security incident.

“This is a devastating day for our Service and for the family, friends, and colleagues of Constable Pinizzotto,” Toronto police said in a statement. We will lean on each other as we navigate our way through this devastating tragedy.”