Shooting Incident Occurred During Court Session at Youth Centre
WAPEKEKA FIRST NATION, ON – REGIONAL NEWS – Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is now investigating after a man armed with a knife was fatally shot by an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer inside a courtroom at a fly-in court session in Wapekeka First Nation.
The incident occurred at approximately noon on Thursday, July 31, 2025, during a court session reportedly being held inside the community’s youth centre. According to Karen Seeley, past president of the Kenora District Law Association and northwest representative for the Federation of Ontario Law Associations, lawyers present at the scene described a dramatic and sudden confrontation.
Seeley told media, that witnesses reported seeing an individual enter the courtroom area, moving toward the space between the judge’s bench and defence counsel’s table.
According to these reports, the man appeared to be armed and, after ignoring commands to drop the weapon, was shot by an OPP officer present in the courtroom.
The OPP released an official statement shortly after the incident, saying: “Members of the Sioux Lookout Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) interacted with an individual armed with a knife on Wapekeka First Nation. During the interaction, an officer discharged their firearm. As a result, the armed individual was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, which investigates all police-involved incidents involving death or serious injury, has invoked its mandate and dispatched a team of investigators to the remote community. SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette confirmed that preliminary information indicates the OPP officer’s firearm discharge was fatal. The SIU has advised that additional updates will be provided following an initial investigation.
Due to the ongoing SIU investigation, the OPP stated they would be unable to provide further details, redirecting media inquiries to the SIU.
Calls for Improved Court Security Intensify
In response to the incident, Ontario Court Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas confirmed in an email obtained by media that an emergency meeting is being convened next week with the Attorney General, Solicitor General, and other stakeholders to address court security—particularly in fly-in courts.
“Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the deceased, the Wapekeka First Nation and its members, and those who were in the courtroom today,” wrote Justice Nicklas. She also reassured colleagues that the judge, lawyers, and court staff present during the incident were physically safe.
Fly-in courts are typically held in temporary facilities in remote communities, with legal staff and officials flown in from larger regional centres. According to Seeley, these court facilities in the northwest region generally lack basic security measures, such as metal detectors or security screening checkpoints, leaving only a single officer responsible for maintaining courtroom safety.
Seeley expressed shock and sadness over the incident, stating, “I am very shocked, I’m very saddened for the community and for everybody who was there. This is a horrific experience to go through. I think we need to look at the way in which we run our courts and ensure everybody is safe—members of the community and those of us who travel in to attend these courts.”
Community Impact and Next Steps
Residents of Wapekeka First Nation can expect an increased police presence in the coming days as investigators from the SIU continue their probe. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased, and further details about the circumstances leading to the confrontation remain under investigation.
NetNewsLedger will continue following this developing story and provide updates as new information becomes available.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is encouraged to contact the SIU directly. Media inquiries can be sent to siu.media@ontario.ca.
