Toronto Police Officer Charged With Manslaughter

Const. Andrew Lawson, a Toronto police officer, has been charged with manslaughter following a fatal shooting that occurred in Niagara Falls on July 30, 2025.

The charge was announced by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontario’s police watchdog, which stated it has reasonable grounds to believe Lawson committed a criminal offense during the incident.

Details of the Shooting

The shooting took place at 11:15 a.m. On July 30, 2025, at the rear of the Ramada hotel located on Stanley Avenue in Niagara Falls.

At the time of the incident, Const. Lawson was seconded to the Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) squad. The ROPE squad is a multi-agency team operated by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) tasked with locating and apprehending parolees who are unlawfully at large.

Members of the ROPE squad were in the area to arrest a 40-year-old man in relation to parole violations. According to Kristy Denette, a spokesperson for the SIU, the man exited the Ramada hotel, at which point officers moved in to make the arrest.

The male exited the Ramada and then officers moved in to arrest this individual and there was an interaction.

Kristy Denette, SIU Spokesperson

During the interaction, the Toronto Police Service officer shot the man. The victim was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Investigation and Casualties

The SIU identified the victim as a 40-year-old man who was not a resident of the Niagara Falls area. His identity was not immediately released pending notification of the next of kin.

In addition to the fatality, a Hamilton police officer was seriously injured during the encounter. The specific nature of the officer’s injuries was not disclosed.

Following the shooting, SIU investigators collected the firearm used in the incident. The watchdog assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case to gather evidence and conduct interviews regarding the events immediately preceding the shots fired.