Suspects in custody after OPP officer killed in line of duty

Police have identified the fallen officer as 28-year-old OPP Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala who had been on the job for only one year.

The officer was reportedly killed while responding to a call for a vehicle in a ditch at the intersection of Indian Line and Concession 14, west of Hagersville. A male and female were spotted leaving the scene.

OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique tweeted, “It is with an extremely heavy heart that I regretfully advise that OPP Provincial Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala was killed today while courageously serving in the line of duty. Our hearts are with his loved ones and all OPP members at this tragic time.”

According to police, a male and female suspect have been taken into custody. Carrique said that no other suspects are currently being sought for the shooting but did not say if any charges have been laid.

Before the arrests, the department had stated they were looking for Randall McKenzie, 25, described as Indigenous, 6-foot-2, and weighing 154 pounds, and an unidentified female suspect.

At 5:45 pm, OPP issued a shelter-in-place alert for residents in Six Nations of the Grand River, Hamilton, and other surrounding areas, as officers searched for the two suspects in a stolen pickup truck and the department had offered a reward for leads in the case and were searching for a male and female who were spotted leaving the scene.

The alert was no longer active by 7 PM local time.

According to the Toronto Sun, West Haldimand OPP has taken the lead on the investigation and Pierzchala was shot in the chest and leg. The outlet noted that one witness said up to five shots were fired and that the driver had tattoos on his upper body.

OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said of the fallen officer, "Greg was a phenomenal officer, great guy, great community member,” and asked that his family be given privacy. "He's going to be truly missed by everybody."