A Toronto police officer was shot and killed while investigating an attack on the U.S. consulate in March, according to police chief Myron Demkiw. The officer. 43-year-old Constable Marc Pinizzotto. Was conducting a search warrant in the north-west of the city when he was shot during an exchange of gunfire. He later died at a hospital.

Attack on U.S. Consulate

In March. Two individuals emerged from a white Honda SUV at around 4:30 a.m. and fired multiple shots at the U.S. consulate building in Toronto before fleeing — the attack caused damage to the building’s exterior but did not result in any injuries. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra called the incident “deeply troubling” and expressed confidence in the investigation being conducted by Canadian authorities.

Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack as an “attempt at intimidation” and pledged to use the full weight of resources to apprehend the perpetrators, and he also announced that federal and local police forces would work together to catch those responsible.

Ongoing Investigation and Suspects

One of the suspects, identified by police as 19-year-old Zara Jabbi, remains at large and is considered “armed and dangerous,” according to Demkiw. Another suspect was taken into custody at a hospital. Police are continuing to search for the second suspect while conducting further investigations into the incidents linked to the consulate attack.

Demkiw noted that the search warrant was part of an investigation into several shootings in the Greater Toronto Area, including the attack on the U.S. consulate. During the operation, an exchange of gunfire occurred at around 5:42 a.m. as officers executed a warrant at a residential building.

Broader Context and Response

The attack on the U.S. consulate occurred amid heightened tensions following the U.S. and Israel’s military actions against Iran in late February. The consulate attack followed gunfire incidents at two Toronto-area synagogues the previous weekend. In response, police have increased patrols around the U.S. consulate, the U.S. embassy in Ottawa, and the Israeli consulate in Toronto.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed grief over the death of Officer Pinizzotto, noting that she had known his mother for 20 years. “Their grief is shared across this city,” she said. Demkiw also spoke emotionally at a news conference, stating that “no words can capture the impact on Marc’s family, who expected him to come home today.”

RCMP officials have classified the consulate attack as a national-security incident. Chief Superintendent Chris Leather emphasized the need for heightened vigilance around diplomatic missions. “I think it’s fairly obvious, based on the incidents that have occurred here in Toronto and elsewhere, that these consulates deserve a heightened amount of vigilance at this time,” he said.