Man taken to Timmins hospital with gunshot wound after shooting on Sixth Avenue
People in Timmins are waking up to a heavy police presence and road closures in the area of Sixth Avenue and Pine Street on Tuesday morning following a shooting.
Timmins police closed road at Sixth Avenue and Pine Street. May 7, 2024 (Lydia Chubak/CTV Northern Ontario)
Timmins police were called to a 'weapons incident' shortly before 6:30 a.m. and one man was found on Sixth Avenue with a gunshot wound, police said in a news release. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Tuesday afternoon, police said three people were seen exiting the vehicle and fled the area on foot and that area was searched.
"A wide area around the scene has been contained by uniform patrol officers and the Timmins Police emergency response team has been deployed," police said.
"The OPP K9 unit has also been deployed to assist."
Ethan Chapleau-Fletcher lives at Sixth Avenue and Pine Street.
He told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an online interview he was sleeping peacefully when he was awoken by a loud bang around 6:30 a.m.
"I got scared and looked outside to see what was happening and I saw a police officer holding his gun," he said.
Photos obtained by CTV News show a vehicle parked in the middle of Seventh Avenue and Maple Street North and the intersection is cordoned off with yellow police tape.
Silver car with front end damage sits in the middle of Seventh Avenue and Maple Street North in Timmins following an 'incident.' May 7, 2024.
"Shortly after the weapons incident, police also received a call of a motor vehicle collision in the area of Maple North and Seventh Avenue," police said.
"It is believed that these incidents are related and that area is also be contained by police."
Silver car with major front end damage parked on Seventh Avenue in Timmins following an early morning shooting on Sixth Avenue. May 7, 2024 (Lydia Chubak/CTV Northern Ontario)
A neighbour told CTV News he was woken up by the sound of the crash around 6:25 a.m.
Police also have an area near Elm Street cordoned off Tuesday morning.
Timmins police have road cordoned off to Elm Street after crash. May 7, 2024
Two schools in the area, Pope Francis Elementary School and Ecole Catholique Jacque-Cartier on Ninth Avenue, are closed for the day as a precaution due to the proximity to the incident.
"Following a police situation near the Jacques Cartier School in Timmins, the school is closed," Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes Rivières said in a post on social media at 7:33 a.m.
"If your Jacques-Cartier Timmins child is already on the bus, he or she will be brought to the headquarters (896 Riverside). The school management will welcome your child and communicate with you," the school board said in another post at 8:22 a.m.
Two other CSCDGR schools are taking extra precautions as a result of the incident as well, but remain open.
"Due to an abundance of security and due to a police situation near the school, Sacré-Coeur and Louis Rhéaume will be in quarantine for safety. Students will enter the school directly upon arrival," the school board said at 8:02 a.m.
"Due to a police presence, the above schools are in hold and secure. Students will stay indoors till further notice. This is being done in an abundunce of caution."
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
Vanessa Landers is a mother who lives in the neighbourhood.
She said parents are scrambling to find child care due to the last-minute school closures and that having to explain to their children the reason why there is no school is hard.
"How crazy is it to think our kids can’t even walk to the bus stop any more in fear of shots being fired and/or crazy driving resulting in an accident had it happened any later," Landers said.
"No hours of the day are safe anymore and it’s just sad … last thing we want is our kids being in fear."
Two police officers investigating early morning incident. May 7, 2024.
Police are asking people to avoid the area around Sixth Avenue and said it will be "under police control for an undetermined amount of time while the investigation continues."
Timmins police have closed the road at Seventh and Birch following an early morning shooting. May 7, 2024 (Lydia Chubak/CTV Northern Ontario)
The criminal investigation division and forensic services has taken over the investigation.
"Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 705-264-1201 or Crime Stoppers," police said.
CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca is continuing to follow the story and will update the article as new information becomes available.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.