THUNDER BAY — A 38-year-old Brampton man has pleaded guilty to a series of serious offences stemming from a March 2022 shooting in Thunder Bay and a subsequent police pursuit and exchange of gunfire on Highway 582 near Hurkett.
Andrew Anthony Plummer (born January 8, 1988) appeared by video from a Toronto jail on Monday, March 2, 2026, before Superior Court Justice Stephen Wojciechowski, and entered guilty pleas after the Attorney General of Ontario approved a direct indictment—a procedural step under section 577 of the Criminal Code that moves a case straight to Superior Court trial without a preliminary inquiry.
Assistant Crown Attorneys Meredith Gardiner and Lillian Taylor were in court, along with defence counsel Nicole Debellefeuille.
Plummer had previously brought an application alleging excessive force by police during his arrest; that application was dismissed.
Guilty Pleas Entered
Plummer pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including:
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Attempted murder of OPP Staff Sergeant Dave Moscall
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Aggravated assault (for shooting his brother, Andrew Richard Lawrence, born November 19, 1985)
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Dangerous driving
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Fail to stop for police
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Possession of a loaded restricted firearm without the required licence/authorization
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Drug-related offence(s) tied to cocaine located during the investigation (as outlined in court)
A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Agreed Facts: Forest Street Argument Ends in Shooting
According to an agreed statement of facts presented in court, Plummer and co-accused Drew McKenzie picked up Plummer’s brother at the Thunder Bay Airport on March 7, 2022, and drove to an AirBnB on Forest Street in the city.
On March 8, 2022, an argument escalated inside the rental. Court heard Plummer attempted to strike his brother with a Glock .40-calibre handgun and then shot him four times, with wounds described to the stomach and shoulder.
The victim made it to a neighbour’s home across the street, and an ambulance was called.
Police were told Plummer and McKenzie were likely heading toward Toronto. The victim later refused to provide a formal statement, the court was told.
Highway 582 Pursuit Near Hurkett: Shots Fired at Police
OPP officers located the vehicle in Sterling Township near Hurkett and initiated a high-risk stop using a spike belt, court heard.
McKenzie stopped the vehicle and exited compliantly, dropping the keys.
The court was told Plummer retrieved the keys, got into the driver’s seat, turned around, and sped off—leading to further attempts to stop the vehicle on Highway 582.
During the pursuit, Plummer fired the handgun at police, including toward Staff Sgt. Moscall. After the incident, police found a bullet hole in an unmarked police vehicle, with metal fragments inside the door area.
A second spike belt was deployed. Plummer continued driving, and the vehicle ultimately became stuck after going up a snowbank. Police fired at the vehicle, and Plummer fled into nearby bush.
More than two hours later, at approximately 3:17 p.m., Plummer was spotted and taken into custody after he laid down and surrendered, telling police words to the effect of, “I give up,” as the court heard.
Firearm and Drug Evidence, SIU Review, and Co-Accused Case
Police located the Glock handgun nearby, along with ammunition, and the investigation later linked shell casings to both the Forest Street shooting and the highway incident, according to court evidence.
A search also uncovered $2,700 in cash and more than 44 grams of cocaine, along with a digital scale and baggies, court heard. Evidence presented included DNA findings on the firearm, and an examination that determined the serial number had been removed and that the magazine configuration was illegal.
Following the exchange of gunfire, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigated the police shooting and cleared the officers involved of wrongdoing, as previously reported.
The charges against Drew McKenzie remain before the court.
Why This Matters Locally
While the case began with a shooting incident in a central Thunder Bay neighbourhood, it quickly escalated into a dangerous, multi-jurisdictional event involving Thunder Bay Police Service, OPP, and Anishinabek Police Service, and a heavily travelled corridor used by Northwestern Ontario residents moving between communities and highways north of the city.
It also hopefully puts another dent in the illegal drug trade where Toronto based criminal activity migrates to Thunder Bay.
The guilty pleas bring the case closer to conclusion, but the court will still determine a sentence and address the remaining proceedings for the co-accused.
