A Toronto police officer was shot and killed Thursday during an early-morning search warrant operation connected to an investigation into multiple shootings, including a March attack on the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, police said.
Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, was wounded while officers executed a warrant in the northwest part of the city. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw confirmed that the operation was connected to a wider investigation involving several shootings, including the gunfire attack at the U.S. diplomatic building earlier this year.
The death of Pinizzotto has shaken Toronto’s police force and city leadership. Officials described him as an 18-year veteran of the service. Mayor Olivia Chow said the grief was shared across the city and offered condolences to the officer’s family.
Police said one suspect, identified in reports as 19-year-old Nicholas Bennett, was critically injured during the incident and is expected to face a first-degree murder charge. Another suspect, 19-year-old Zara Jabbi, remains at large. Police warned that Jabbi should be considered armed and dangerous and urged anyone who sees him to call 911 immediately.
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The warrant was connected to the investigation of a March shooting at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. In that incident, police said two men fired multiple rounds at the building before sunrise. No one was injured, but the attack damaged the diplomatic facility and drew condemnation from U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, who called it “deeply troubling.”
Canadian federal police have previously said investigators would examine whether the consulate shooting could be considered a terrorist incident. Authorities have not yet publicly released a final conclusion on that question.
The officer’s death adds a new and tragic dimension to the case. What began as an investigation into a diplomatic facility shooting has now become a homicide investigation involving a fallen officer and an ongoing manhunt.
According to the Associated Press, Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit said the suspect fired first during the police operation. The SIU typically investigates incidents involving police where there is death, serious injury, or firearm discharge. Its involvement means the exact sequence of gunfire will be reviewed independently.
The shooting comes at a tense time for law enforcement in Toronto, where officials have been dealing with concerns over gun violence, diplomatic security, and politically motivated attacks. The March consulate shooting was already a serious national security concern because it targeted a U.S. diplomatic site. The killing of a police officer during a related operation will likely increase scrutiny over the suspects, the investigation, and whether broader networks were involved.
Police have not released all details about the search warrant or what officers were seeking at the apartment. Officials have also not said whether Jabbi is believed to still be in Toronto or whether he may have received help fleeing.
The U.S. Consulate attack remains central to the case. Diplomatic buildings are protected under Canadian law and international agreements, and attacks on such facilities can carry major legal and security consequences. Even though no one was injured in the March shooting, the fact that gunmen allegedly targeted the building raised concerns for both Canadian and American officials.
For Toronto residents, the immediate focus is the search for the at-large suspect and mourning the loss of Const. Pinizzotto. Police are asking the public not to approach Jabbi if they see him and instead contact emergency services.
The investigation is expected to continue across multiple agencies, including Toronto police, federal authorities, and oversight investigators reviewing the fatal warrant operation.
Why It Matters
This matters because a police officer was killed during an investigation tied to an attack on a U.S. diplomatic facility. The case now involves public safety, diplomatic security, and questions about whether the March consulate shooting had a broader motive.
It also matters because one suspect remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Authorities are urging the public to report any sightings immediately.
What Comes Next
Police will continue searching for Zara Jabbi while investigators review the warrant operation and the earlier U.S. Consulate shooting. The critically injured suspect is expected to face a first-degree murder charge, according to AP.
Federal investigators may also continue examining whether the consulate attack meets the threshold for terrorism-related charges or national security prosecution.
Toronto police officials said the search warrant that led to Const. Marc Pinizzotto’s death was connected to multiple shootings, including the March attack on the U.S. Consulate in Toronto.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw says a search warrant that led to the death of Const. Marc Pinizzotto was connected to an investigation into multiple shootings, including the March 2026 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Toronto.
Last month, the FBI arrested Mohammad Baqer Saad… pic.twitter.com/KoIXGmyI8U
— Toronto Crime Watch (@CrimewatchTO) June 11, 2026
