A Hamilton man is facing more than a dozen charges in an incident that involved a police chase, shootout and left one man dead.
The wild incident shut down Highway 11, leaving some motorists 'sheltered in place,' locked in their vehicles for several hours as things unfolded.
Temiskaming OPP has released the name of the man charged in the March 7 police-involved shooting that started in Kirkland Lake and ended north of Latchford. Police are also looking for dash camera video from that evening.
Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) mandate has been invoked. Because the SIU is involved, today's update doesn't include new details on the investigation.
The SIU is an arms-length agency that investigates police-involved incidents where there has been a death, serious injury, allegations of sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
On March 7 around 5 p.m., the SIU says that OPP officers in Kirkland Lake stopped a vehicle and tried to arrest two men for drug-related offences. The driver fled and when police tried to stop the fleeing vehicle in the area of Highway 11 and Portage Bay Road, there was an exchange of gunfire.
A 26-year-old man who was one of the vehicle's occupants was found dead. The other person fled the scene on foot and was later located and arrested by police. The man was not injured.
A 76-year-old bystander who lives in the area and was not involved was seriously injured and was brought to the hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries
Awad Khan, a 23-year-old from Hamilton, is charged with 16 Criminal Code offences:
- Attempt to commit murder using firearm
- Assault with a weapon
- Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order
- Resist peace officer
- Discharge firearm with intent
- Assault peace officer
- Firearm - use while committing offence
- Flight from peace officer
- Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm
- Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammo
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Pointing a firearm
- Escape lawful custody
- Discharge a firearm into or at a place in a reckless manner
- Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
- Dangerous operation
He is in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court on March 12.
The Temiskaming OPP's crime unit is doing the investigation under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).
Anyone driving from Kirkland Lake to Latchford via Highway 66 or Highway 11 from 5-6 p.m. on March 7 who has dash cam video is asked to call OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Police are also looking for people who "made observations" about a light-coloured smaller vehicle.
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