3 OPP officers charged in shooting death of one-year-old boy in Kawartha Lakes

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has laid charges against three OPP officers in connection with the shooting death of an 18-month-old boy in Kawartha Lakes in November 2020.

In a release Wednesday, the SIU said OPP Constables Nathan Vanderheyden, Kenneth Pengelly and Grayson Cappus have each been criminally charged with one count of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death.

The three accused officers will appear in court on Oct. 6.

The deceased boy was identified in the release as Jameson Shapiro.

In a statement, President of the OPP Association, Rob Stinson, said the union is supporting the charged officers and other staff affected by the incident.

“This incident is a tragic circumstance for all involved,” Stinson wrote. “We are fully supporting our members charged and our officers and civilian staff affected, with some still off work. It has impacted many people, families, first responders, and our members.

“Every single day police officers make split second decisions that most will never have to make and wouldn’t want to make. This case is now before the courts. Everyone is entitled to due process. Our members have cooperated with the investigation in accordance with the law.”

The boy’s 33-year-old father was also shot and killed by police during the interaction.

On Nov. 26, 2020, the OPP received reports that a father had abducted his son just before 9 a.m. that morning.

Officers discovered a vehicle of interest a short time later and attempted to stop the pickup truck.

A police chase ensued and an OPP cruiser collided with the suspect vehicle on Pigeon Lake Road in Kawartha Lakes. An OPP officer was standing outside the police cruiser when the collision took place and suffered serious injuries.

An altercation then occurred between the father and the officers. Three officers discharged their weapons and the 33-year-old was taken to hospital with serious injuries. He later died in hospital.

The one-year-old boy, who was in the backseat of the vehicle, was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

At one point the SIU involved the services of the FBI for their investigation.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

With files from Michael Ranger and News Staff

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