The province's police watchdog has identified the 44-year-old man shot and killed by OPP in Exeter.
Emergency crews were called to a house fire on Simcoe Street around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. When South Huron firefighters and Huron OPP arrived on scene, a man armed with an axe, emerged from the house. According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), there was then an "interaction" between the man and police which resulted in two officers firing their weapons.
The man was struck multiple times, the SIU said. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The man has since been identified as 44-year-old Wade Vanderwal.
The SIU has sent four investigators and three forensic investigators to Exeter to probe the shooting. They are urging anyone with information about this incident to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. Those with video evidence of the shooting are asked to upload it to the SIU website.
The SIU investigates any incident involving police officers that has resulted in death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.