Scarborough resident charged after firing gun during attempted car theft

[u/Hmfic_48]

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/08/19/scarborough-resident-charged-firing-gun-vehicle-theft-toronto-police/

[u/Sad-Stop-2401]

I think we should not hold layfolks at higher accountability than we hold police when it comes to self defense with firearms.

Do you expect people to make judgement call in situations like this?

Do you expect people to moderate their response more than police?

If a cop was confronted like this, he would have reached for his or her gun. If they are not charged why charge lay folks trying to protect themself and their property much more harshly?

And lets not get started how many police fired rounds hit bystanders or even people in their homes.

[u/Sad-Stop-2401 → u/[deleted]]

Thats firearms 101. Do not reach for the gun or point the gun unless you want to commit.

Police are neither expected nor capable to have those kind of reflexes. You present as a threat to cop, very likely you get shot.

[u/Curious_Joe2020 → u/Sad-Stop-2401]

Not true. Police reach for guns all the time in such a scenario but rarely ever shoot them. Ever seen a tactical team? 99% of the time the suspect surrenders or is apprehended with guns pointed but never shot. This wasn't a surprise. The guy approached the suspects that were trying to steal a car on his driveway. A cop would point a gun at them or in their direction at the ready but not shoot unless they were also armed and posing a threat. This guy messed up big time simple as that and shot at a neighbour's house. If the suspects ran away and he had not shot probably nothing would have happened to him legally. If he hit them then it's manslaughter, attempted murder, or aggravated assault with a firearm and a lot of jail time.

[u/Sad-Stop-2401 → u/Curious_Joe2020]

The expectation during an encounter is that cop will defend their life first. Someone not getting shot after presenting as a threat to cop is his good luck NOT cop's duty. The person here presented himself as a threat to the owner of the car and his property. Most encounters with cops end in compliance because most folks are NOT trying to threaten cops or their official property (car, firearm etc). When a person does it, they ..... often meet fatal consequences.

See it in other way, if a cop misread the threat and shoot you, they will walk free.

If you misread (or courts feels so) and shot a person doing forced entry you will be charged.

Thats the issue. We can not hold cops at lower standard than lay folks.