One person is dead after being shot by police at Guelph General Hospital.

"It's a tragic incident," Guelph Police Chief Jeff DeRuyter said.

“Our thoughts are with our members and the rest of the community.”

The shooting occurred around 1:30 p.m. inside the hospital's emergency department.

According to Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, the encounter resulted in two Guelph Police officers firing their weapons, and one man dying due to gunshot wounds.

His identity has not been released.

A police spokesperson said he was not aware of any other injuries as a result of the incident.

Officials declined to provide details of what led up to the shooting, and it was not clear whether police were already at the hospital before the altercation that led up to the shooting.

Outside the hospital, witnesses reported confusion as some people were told they couldn't enter the hospital.

"I ran into a gentleman that told me he was walking by emergency and heard 'Pop, pop, pop' like three gunshots," Dale Mackintosh told CTV News.

The SIU has assigned a team of investigators to probe the shooting.

"We are co-operating with the SIU," DeRuyter said.

"We have full confidence in their investigation."

People in the emergency unit were initially taken to another part of the hospital.

As the day unfolded, the patients were returned to the ER -- although its waiting room remained under guard, and delays in wait times were expected.

"Our focus now is to provide support to all those who need it including satff, patients and visitors," hospital president Marianne Walker said.

The rest of the hospital was not affected, and remains open to visitors -- although at least one patient was diverted to Kitchener's Grand River Hospital earlier in the day.

Other hospitals in the surrounding area, including Kitchener's St. Mary's General Hospital, were on standby and ready to receive patients.