KITCHENER -- The Special Investigations Unit has been called in to investigate an officer-involved shooting in a Kitchener parking lot on Wednesday evening.
Waterloo regional police were called to the area of Ottawa Street and Strasburg Road around 6:50 p.m. for reports of a man in distress. Officials said when they arrived, the man reportedly drove his vehicle at a police cruiser and got out of the vehicle, threatening an officer with a weapon.
"As a result of the incident, the officer discharged the firearm," Ashley Dietrich with Waterloo regional police said.
The SIU is investigating the circumstances around the incident. Officials said the man was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
Three investigators and two forensic investigators from the SIU were assigned to the case.
One witness, who did not want to be identified, said they saw an officer run away from a man while shooting at him multiple times. The witness said the officer then tripped to the ground and dropped his gun before other officers moved in and surrounded the man.
Pam Schell, who also witnessed the incident, said she heard five gunshots then saw a man on the ground covered in blood.
"There was definitely blood, so somebody was hurt," she said. "And there wasn't a little bit of blood, there was a lot."
Schell said watching the scene unfold was surreal.
"We saw one officer comforting another officer. He turns around, pats him on the back, gives him a bit of a squeeze," she said. "I think he was kind of shook up for what he's just gone through too."
