SIU Investigating Police-Involved Death of Man in Deer Lake First Nation

Press Release

Mississauga, ON (23 July, 2025) The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 45-year-old man in Deer Lake First Nation yesterday afternoon.

Preliminary information suggests the following:

• At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 22, 2025, Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) officers went to a residence in the community, located 580 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, as they had a warrant to arrest the man.
• The man fled from the house.
• There was an interaction, and one NAPS officer discharged his firearm at the man.
• Officers provided first aid and the man was taken to a nursing station where he was pronounced deceased.

Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.

One subject official and one witness official has been designated at this time.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

• consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
• depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
• publicly report the results of its investigations

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES

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