A member of the Special Investigations Unit inspects a used shell casing after a man was fatally shot by the police after allegedly threatening officers with scissors in Toronto on Feb. 3, 2012.
Ontario's police watchdog has identified the man fatally shot after a confrontation with police last week as 29-year-old Michael Eligon.
Mr. Eligon was pronounced dead at St. Michael's Hospital at 10:37 a.m. Friday after he was taken from the scene, a few blocks from Toronto East General Hospital and near the intersection of Coxwell and Danforth avenues, the Special Investigations Unit said in a statement Monday.
Mr. Eligon, who was described by witnesses as wearing a hospital gown and no shoes, was a patient at Toronto East General Hospital, a spokeswoman said Monday.
The SIU, which probes fatalities and serious injuries involving police, said one officer is considered a subject officer in the investigation, while there are 10 witnesses.
A police officer was also slightly injured in the incident.
Four shots were fired after Mr. Eligon was surrounded by officers, said a Milverton Boulevard resident who said she saw what happened from her window. Before the gunfire, there was an exchange of words that sounded like police giving the man a warning, she said.
Local residents said a man in a hospital gown was acting aggressively and appeared confused. They said he was wandering around the neighbourhood Friday morning without shoes on and waving two pairs of scissors.
Toronto East General Hospital spokeswoman Angela Pappaianni confirmed Mr. Eligon was a patient at the hospital, but did not disclose why he was there, when he left and the situation around his departure.
"There's the ongoing investigation and there's the patient privacy piece here," she said. She added the hospital is working with the SIU and "taking their lead."
Witnesses said he had entered a convenience store at the corner of Sammon and Woodington avenues, kitty-corner from the hospital, prior to the shooting. One resident said someone in the store was stabbed, but wouldn't give more details. The store was later taped off by police.
Seven investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to the SIU case.
With a report from Tu Thanh Ha