The doors to the Rideau Centre were locked after an officer-involved shooting on Rideau Street between Sussex and Dalhousie on Tuesday afternoon, Ottawa Police said.
“There is no active threat to public safety. No outstanding suspects,” the force posted on the social media site X.
One man sustained gun shot wounds, a spokesperson for the Ottawa Paramedic service said. “He was taken to hospital in critical condition after being stabilized by paramedics,” according to the spokesperson.
Traffic was at a standstill in the area. Rideau was blocked at Sussex Drive for several blocks. It was not clear when the streets would reopen.
Officers were directing traffic in the area, and the City of Ottawa advised residents to avoid the area.
About a dozen police cars were on scene, and two OC Transpo buses were stopped along the street.
Inside the Rideau Centre, behind the locked doors that typically open to Rideau Street, the Indigo bookstore was shuttered.
“Indigo Rideau will be closed for the rest of the day. We will be reopening tomorrow at 10 a.m,” a note scotch taped to the security gate at the ground floor entrance said.
The mall itself was calm. Security officials diverted shoppers away from the area under police investigation.
More to come…
With files from Marlo Glass and Paula Tran
