‘Dark days’: Candlelight vigil held to honour two South Simcoe police officers killed
Posted October 11, 2022 8:07 pm.
Last Updated October 12, 2022 8:15 pm.
A heartbroken community gathered Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil to mourn the deaths of two police officers, killed while responding to a disturbance at a home in Innisfil, Ont.
Const. Devon Northrup, 33, and Const. Morgan Russell, 54 were shot after exchanging gunfire with a young man inside the home shortly before 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Northrup died at a local hospital while Russell was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre, where he was later pronounced dead.
The 23-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Northrup was a six-year member of the service and worked with the community mobilization and engagement unit. He also served as a member of the mental health crisis outreach team and the emergency response unit.
Russell was with the force for 33 years. He was a trained crisis negotiator and was assigned to uniform patrol.
Lynn Dollin, the mayor of Innisfil, was one of the many dignitaries on hand at the Innisfil Community Church to remember the fallen officers and praise the difficult work that all first responders face on a daily basis.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve gotten maybe a bit numb to what our first responders do everyday. And all of what they do to keep us safe, in the middle of the night, going into situations we’d all run away from.”
Local MP John Brassard told the gathering the impact to the community would be felt for a long time.
“These are going to be dark days. These are going to be hard days. Hard for the families. Hard for the South Simcoe Police family. Hard for our firefighters, our EMS, and everyone whose been impacted by this terrible tragedy.”
Ontario’s police watchdog has taken over the investigation while the South Simcoe Police Service has requested the York Regional Police to conduct an investigation into the circumstances of this incident on their behalf.
South Simcoe Police identified the two officers shot and killed in Innisfil, Ont. as Morgan Russell (left) and Devon Northrup (right). Photo: South Simcoe Police.
“This is personal for me. I went to police college with Morgan 33 years ago,” acting police chief John Van Dyke said earlier in the day. “This is a heartbreaking time for our police service.”
Van Dyke said he recognizes that the public has questions about the circumstances of the incident. Few details were released.
“We ask for your patience and privacy as we attempt to come to terms with the losses of these two beloved members of our family,” Van Dyke said.
CityNews spoke to a woman claiming to be the suspect’s ex-girlfriend who identified the 23-year-old as Chris Doncaster. The woman, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said Doncaster was living with his grandparents.
A photo of the man suspected of shooting and killing two South Simcoe police officers in Innisfil. Photo: CityNews submission.
A resident who lives in the area told CityNews she heard six or seven gunshots followed by the sound of police sirens, saying the street was filled with police vehicles shortly after the shots rang out.
“Just heard a bunch of loud bangs,” she said. “At first, I thought it was maybe a gas explosion or something. Then came here and saw a whole bunch of cop cars come flying up.”
John Ridge, who has lived in the area for 26 years, said he was heading to bed Tuesday night when he saw two police cars rush by his house with their lights on.
“Woke up this morning and two police officers were shot 10 doors from my house,” the 66-year-old said.
“I’m sickened by it. These guys go out and put their lives on the line for us every single day. And this is the kind of thanks they get?”
Ridge and other neighbours said an elderly couple who had an adult grandson lived in the house where the shooting took place.
“I had just met the grandfather, really nice guy,” Ridge said. “To have a police officer shot in your neighbourhood is just not acceptable.”
Cindy Le, who lives in a home across the street from where the shooting took place, said she had heard sirens on Tuesday night.
“It’s terrible,” she said of what had happened. “It’s sad. Really sad.”
Le, who has lived in the area for seven years, said the residential neighbourhood is typically a quiet, safe one. “I love the neighbourhood,” the 53-year-old said.
Archibald Torrance, who also lives in the area, said he was shocked by what had taken place.
“I don’t think it’s right,” the 82-year-old said. “These policemen are doing a job.”
The mayor of Innisfil said the community was more than devastated by the officers’ deaths.
“South Simcoe police are beloved in our communities. So well respected by everyone and well-loved,” said Lynn Dollin. “We’re just broken.”
Dollin said it would take a long time to process the community’s loss.
“They’re not just police officers, they’re friends,” she said, noting that she played in a golf league with Russell.
“This is not something that we are accustomed to here. It’s a safe place and this was a shock to all of us.”
Premier Doug Ford visited the South Simcoe police detachment in Innisfil, Ont., on Wednesday afternoon to show his support to the force members.
“It’s very sad. It’s senseless tragedy. My heart bleeds for his family, their families, I should say, the women and men that serve every single day,” Ford said.
“I come from a policing family and the sacrifices they make: They’re running into danger as everyone else is running out.”
Lana Heyd was among dozens of town residents who came to put flowers near the entrance of the police detachment.
“It’s just sad when two innocent people’s lives are taken trying to save everybody else, trying to look after our community. And this is their payback?” she said. “It’s brutal.”
Toronto Mayor John Tory tweeted out his condolences to the family and friends of the two fallen officers, calling the incident an “unspeakable tragedy.”
“Fresh from our own recent loss of a Toronto officer, we grieve with the family, the members of the broader police community and residents of Innisfil,” said Tory.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also tweeted his condolences, saying his thoughts are “with the loved ones of these officers and the entire Innisfil community.”
He said later Wednesday that the federal Liberal government was working to step up on gun control, noting a ban on assault weapons and a freeze on purchasing handguns among recent measures brought in.
Police procession brings fallen officers to coroner’s office
Early Wednesday morning, a large number of police vehicles were seen lined up in a procession outside the Office of the Chief Coroner near Wilson Avenue and Keele Street in Toronto.
A second procession began around 8 a.m. to transport the second officer from St. Mike’s to the coroner’s office.
The procession has made it on to the DVP pic.twitter.com/mgZ9q4MNmU
— 680 NewsRadio Toronto Traffic & Weather (@NewsRadioTO) October 12, 2022
First responders could be seen saluting the procession from overpasses as the escort made its way out of downtown northbound on the Don Valley Parkway to the westbound 401.
The procession arrived at the coroner’s office just before 9:30 a.m.
4 Toronto area officers killed in last 30 days
The deaths of the two officers mark the third and fourth Toronto area police officers to be killed in the last month.
A Toronto Police officer was shot and killed during a shooting rampage that spanned the GTA in September. Days later, a York Regional Police officer was killed in an early morning head-on collision in Markham.
