Officer fatally shot while executing search warrant in probe tied to US consulate shooting in Toronto
A police officer was shot and killed while executing a "high-risk" search warrant Thursday as part of an investigation into a series of shootings in Toronto, including one at the United States consulate in March, authorities said.
The officer, 43-year-old Marc Pinizzotto with the department's emergency task force, was "shot in the line of duty while conducting a search warrant early this morning," Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw said during a press briefing on Thursday.
Pinizzotto was provided emergency care and transported to a local hospital, where he died, the chief said.
A 19-year-old suspect, identified by police as Nicholas Bennett of Toronto, will be charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death, authorities said. He was shot by police during the incident and is in custody, receiving emergency medical treatment in a hospital, authorities said.
Police did not share additional details about the circumstances of the shooting.
The investigation involving the search warrant and four others executed on Thursday "concerned a number of shootings," including one at the U.S. consulate in Toronto on March 10, Demkiw said.
Witnesses observed two people emerge from a white Honda CR-V and discharge a handgun at the consulate before driving away, according to police. No one was injured during the incident. Officers got a call about the shooting around 5:29 a.m., and found shell casings and damage to the building when they arrived, police said.
A 19-year-old suspect wanted in connection with the U.S. consulate shooting remains at large, Demkiw said Thursday.
The police chief identified the suspect as Zara Jabbi and warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
"I urge you to turn yourself in," Demkiw said while addressing the suspect during the briefing.
ABC News' Othon Leyva contributed to this report.
