Officer injured in Welland shooting, residents ordered to shelter in place

Residents are still being ordered to shelter in place near Second Street and Plymouth Road in Welland after a Niagara police officer was injured in a shooting Friday morning.

Niagara Regional Police were called around 7:30 a.m. to assist a Welland bylaw officer with a fencing complaint at a former church — which was converted into a home — on Second Street.

Investigators say a man inside the building allegedly opened fire on police soon after they arrived. They are unsure how many shots were fired.

One of the officers, a woman, was reportedly shot in the chest and transported to hospital. She was later released from hospital after being treated for minor physical injuries.

“We believe the body armour did its job in this case,” said Niagara police Const. Richard Hingley.

He says the suspect involved in the shooting is contained.

Officers are working with members of the Emergency Task Unit and negotiators to get the man to surrender peacefully.

Police posted on X at around 6:49 p.m. they initiated tactics and equipment to determine the wellbeing of the man inside the home.

Update 11 –
Shelter in Place remains in effect
The male suspect remains contained in the residence.

If members of the public are questioning recent sounds heard in the area, Police have initiated tactics and equipment to determine the wellbeing of the male inside the home.
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— NRPS (@NiagRegPolice) December 19, 2025

Nearby schools and the Welland Hospital were initially in lockdown. Police have since lifted the hold-and-secure at the hospital, but access is restricted due to road closures in the area. Staff were also evacuated from Plymouth Public School and St. Mary Catholic Elementary School.

Police are asking residents in the area to keep their doors and windows locked for their own safety.

Hingley says every available officer in the region — without affecting ongoing operations — were called to hold the area, including tactical units from Hamilton and Halton police services.

Ontario’s top police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has been notified and invoked its mandate.

A stressful week with two shootings in Welland

Earlier this week, a man was killed after an exchange of gunfire with Niagara Regional Police in the area of Ontario Road and Steel Street.

Niagara police said in a release Sunday morning that they were contacted by Peel police regarding a man wanted in connection with a domestic-related incident involving a firearm that occurred in Mississauga on Dec. 12.

The SIU said the man shot at officers first from a home. Police then fired tear gas into the home to drive the man out. The man shot at police again, and officers returned fire.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

WATCH MORE: One man dead, officer injured following police-involved shooting in Welland

“Obviously it takes a toll on our officers,” Hingley says. “Everyday you sign up to do the job — you put the uniform on and you hope that your training kicks in like it’s supposed to. It sounds like it has in this case.”

Premier Doug Ford offered his prayers for the ongoing situation in Welland while he was speaking at an unrelated press conference in Buffalo, N.Y.

“One of our police officers was shot in the chest and is in the hospital,” Ford said.

“She’s a wonderful person, she’s going to survive. And I just want to say our prayers and thoughts are with the family, our prayers and thoughts are with all the police on both sides of the border.”

This is a developing story. More to come.

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