Peel Region Police respond to gunshots at UTM McLuhan Court Residence 
Police say a 19-year-old man was found dead inside the McLuhan residence, Special Investigations Unit investigates incident

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UTM sent a critical alert on November 2 at around 9:30 p.m., reporting emergency responders were present at 3330 Residence Road McLuhan Court Residence. Peel Regional Police confirmed gunshots were fired in the area. 

UTM told students to “shelter in place until further instructions.” In a 10:30 p.m. post on X, the university said it had received reports of police activity.

At 11:02 p.m., Peel Regional Police said in an X post that the “Situation is contained,” but remained an “Active incident.”

At 11:45 p.m., in another X post, Peel Regional Police confirmed that there were no reports of injuries and that the incident had been “Isolated and contained to a single residential unit.” 

McLuhan residence was evacuated, and instructions were to avoid the area. All students were instructed to remain in lockdown until further notice. The lockdown and shelter-in-place were lifted on November 3, at around 12:45am except for McLuhan Court Residence.

Police had informed through an X post that a media scrum would be held at The Collegeway and Mississauga Road intersection around 1 a.m., but later deleted it. 

Police investigation 

Media officer Tyler Bell-Morena was present at a press conference in front of McLuhan at 10:30 a.m. and called the event “A very traumatic situation.” 

During the press conference, Officer Bell-Morena stated that there is no indication that the suspect was a UTM student. Earlier, the man had been involved in an intimate partner violence incident at around 3 p.m., in Brampton.

Officer Bell-Morena said that shortly after 9 p.m., the police received a 911 call from campus and “Connected the dots.” He added that the individual may have been visiting a student with ties to the residence. 

The police confirmed that there were no hostages and the suspect was alone inside the residence unit. During the operation, they managed to contain the man in one room within the townhouse.

Peel Region Police stated there were several unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the suspect. Once they entered the unit, they found the man deceased with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This brought the incident to an end at around 1:30 a.m. 

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) identified the individual as a 19-year-old man in a news release. In an email interview with The Medium, SIU has confirmed there are no new injuries reported, and they have assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case.

During the press conference, Kristy Denette, the SIU spokesperson, informed that preliminary information indicates that 20 less-lethal anti-riot weapon enfield (ARWEN) projectiles were discharged by the police. Damage to the unit’s rear upper window can be attributed to the projectiles. Early investigations also indicate that there were two gunshots inside due to two cartridge cases recovered from the scene. 

At around 7 a.m., the university announced that the campus would stay open, but classes were cancelled “Out of fairness to, as well as compassion for, more than 2,000 residents and other students who were impacted by events last night.” 

Mental health resources for students 

UTM is offering multiple support tools for students which can be found on Utogether.

The UTM Student Union (UTMSU) and several other student clubs have shared their support for the students and mental health resources on their social media accounts. Club events originally held on November 3 were postponed to a later date. 

For students in need of support, the Health and Counselling Center will expand its drop-in counselling support, and the Wellness Den will remain open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The UTMSU is also holding decompression events at the Student Centre. UTM Residence will be holding extended resident service desk hours. 

The situation is no longer active.

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