THUNDER BAY – A Brampton man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a shooting in Thunder Bay’s intercity area.
The suspect reportedly exchanged gunfire with OPP officers on Highway 11/17 near Hurkett, about one hour east of Thunder Bay, on Tuesday, hours after police responded to a shooting incident on Forest Street that left one person with serious injuries.
The victim’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, the Thunder Bay Police Service said Wednesday.
The standoff near Hurkett resulted in no reported injuries, Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said Wednesday, as it investigates the incident.
Thunder Bay police identified the suspect as Andrew Plummer, 34, of Brampton.
He stands charged with attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.
The OPP has not yet indicated whether he will face additional charges related to the exchange of gunfire with police officers.
Plummer appeared in bail court on Wednesday and was remanded into custody with a future appearance date of March 14, the TBPS said.
The SIU said no injuries were reported after OPP officers on Tuesday shot at a vehicle driven by the suspect near Hurkett, west of Nipigon, before later arresting the man.
OPP officers from the Nipigon detachment exchanged gunfire with the 34-year-old male suspect on Highway 11/17 in the Hurkett area, west of Nipigon, around 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Special Investigations Unit said in a statement Wednesday.
“Officers attempted to stop the driver in the area of Highway 11/17,” the SIU said in a preliminary statement of facts. “There were multiple exchanges of gunfire between officers and the man driving the vehicle.
The SIU confirmed Tuesday it would invoke its mandate to investigate the incident. Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers responded to reports of a seriously injured male on Forest Street just before 1 p.m. Tuesday.
When police arrived, they located an adult male with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds, police said. Paramedics transported the male to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for further evaluation and treatment of his injuries. His condition was not yet known Wednesday.
OPP warned Hurket-area residents later that afternoon they were searching for an armed suspect. During the search near Hurkett, more than a dozen OPP cruisers were seen in the area, significantly backing up traffic on the highway.
There was also a low-pass surveillance plane and helicopter involved in the search that lead to the arrest.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online.
Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Major Crimes and Forensic Identification Units remain involved in the ongoing investigation over the Forest Street shooting, the force said.
