Toronto Police Service officer Marc Pinizzotto was shot and killed early Thursday during a raid on a high-rise building, an operation linked to a March shooting outside the U.S. consulate in the city. The 43-year-old officer, an 18-year veteran who served five years on the Toronto Police’s Emergency Task Force, was pronounced dead in hospital after a gunfire exchange with suspects.
Police Chief Myron Demikw identified one of the suspects, 19-year-old Zara Jabbi, as still at large and considered armed and dangerous. “I would ask anyone that would see him to call 9-1-1 immediately,” Demikw said. A second suspect was shot in the exchange and transported to hospital with life-threatening conditions, police said; their identity has not been released.
The raid was part of an investigation into a March 9 incident in which two male suspects exited a vehicle and fired what appeared to be a handgun at the U.S. consulate building before driving away. No one inside was harmed, as police described the consulate as “highly fortified.” U.S. and Canadian authorities characterized the shooting at the time as a national security incident. MSI previously reported that a vehicle was found in connection with the investigation in March in a prior article.
Police did not specify what other shootings they were investigating with the search warrants executed across the city Thursday.
U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra mentioned Pinizzotto’s death at a Canada-U.S. trade conference in downtown Toronto on Thursday. “I don’t know if you’re all aware of it, but a Toronto policeman was killed, I believe, overnight in an investigation that may be linked to the United States,” Hoekstra told attendees. “Our thoughts, our prayers are with the family of the police person who was killed.” He described the incident as an “example of the close cooperation that we have in law enforcement between the two countries, how we work together and the risks involved in those types of activities.”
Toronto Police Association President Clayton Campbell described Pinizzotto as a “valued member” of the police force. Chief Demikw, speaking tearfully to reporters, said “there is very heavy sorrow in our communities right now.” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also paid tribute, calling Pinizzotto’s death “heartbreaking news” for the city.
The shooting occurred one day before Toronto is set to host its first FIFA 2026 World Cup game on Friday, where host nation Canada is scheduled to face Bosnia and Herzegovina.