December 20, 2025 l By Dalena Reporters
Welland, Ontario — A 59-year-old man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after a nearly 24-hour standoff with police in Welland, Ontario, following an incident in which a Niagara Regional Police officer was shot while responding to a call, authorities confirmed Saturday.
The incident began early Friday morning, December 19, 2025, when Niagara Regional Police were assisting city bylaw officers at a property near Plymouth Road and Second Street that had been the subject of a complaint involving a constructed fence around what is believed to be a former church converted into a residence.
Upon arriving on scene, officers were met with gunfire from a man inside the residence. A police officer was struck in the chest during the exchange. Thanks to standard-issue body armour, the officer avoided life-threatening injury and was taken to a local hospital as a precaution before being released after treatment for non-serious wounds.
In response, police established a large perimeter and issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents to remain indoors while tactical units, including the Niagara Regional Police Emergency Task Unit (ETU), Hamilton Police Service, Halton Regional Police, and Peel Regional Police, were called in to assist.
During negotiations, officers deployed remote cameras into the residence, but each was met with gunfire and disabled, underscoring the danger posed by the situation.
After nearly a day of negotiations and containment, the suspect, identified by police as 59-year-old Daniel Tronko, was taken into custody at approximately 7:25 a.m. Saturday, December 20, 2025, without further incident.
Tronko was arrested on an attempted murder charge. He was transported by Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) to a hospital outside the region for treatment of injuries allegedly sustained during the gunfire exchange and is currently in stable condition, police said.
Police confirmed no other officers or residents were injured, and all road closures have since been lifted. The shelter-in-place order and associated safety advisories for schools and nearby facilities were rescinded upon the suspect’s arrest.
The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) the province’s independent police watchdog has invoked its mandate to examine the circumstances surrounding the discharge of firearms by police and the injury to the suspect. The SIU typically investigates incidents involving serious injury, death, or police use of force.
Authorities are urging anyone with video or photo evidence from the scene to contact SIU investigators as part of the ongoing review.
Friday’s violence prompted significant public safety measures, including lockdowns at local schools and medical facilities, widespread road closures, and a shelter-in-place directive for residents. Officials have since confirmed there is no current threat to public safety.
Constable Richard Hingley, speaking on behalf of Niagara Regional Police, commended the coordinated efforts of all agencies involved and emphasised the priority placed on protecting both residents and officers throughout the response.By Dalena Reporters
Welland, Ontario — A 59-year-old man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after a nearly 24-hour standoff with police in Welland, Ontario, following an incident in which a Niagara Regional Police officer was shot while responding to a call, authorities confirmed Saturday.
The incident began early Friday morning, December 19, 2025, when Niagara Regional Police were assisting city bylaw officers at a property near Plymouth Road and Second Street that had been the subject of a complaint involving a constructed fence around what is believed to be a former church converted into a residence.
Upon arriving on scene, officers were met with gunfire from a man inside the residence. A police officer was struck in the chest during the exchange. Thanks to standard-issue body armour, the officer avoided life-threatening injury and was taken to a local hospital as a precaution before being released after treatment for non-serious wounds.
In response, police established a large perimeter and issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents to remain indoors while tactical units, including the Niagara Regional Police Emergency Task Unit (ETU), Hamilton Police Service, Halton Regional Police, and Peel Regional Police, were called in to assist.
During negotiations, officers deployed remote cameras into the residence, but each was met with gunfire and disabled, underscoring the danger posed by the situation.
After nearly a day of negotiations and containment, the suspect, identified by police as 59-year-old Daniel Tronko, was taken into custody at approximately 7:25 a.m. Saturday, December 20, 2025, without further incident.
Tronko was arrested on an attempted murder charge. He was transported by Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) to a hospital outside the region for treatment of injuries allegedly sustained during the gunfire exchange and is currently in stable condition, police said.
Police confirmed no other officers or residents were injured, and all road closures have since been lifted. The shelter-in-place order and associated safety advisories for schools and nearby facilities were rescinded upon the suspect’s arrest.
The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) the province’s independent police watchdog has invoked its mandate to examine the circumstances surrounding the discharge of firearms by police and the injury to the suspect. The SIU typically investigates incidents involving serious injury, death, or police use of force.
Authorities are urging anyone with video or photo evidence from the scene to contact SIU investigators as part of the ongoing review.
Friday’s violence prompted significant public safety measures, including lockdowns at local schools and medical facilities, widespread road closures, and a shelter-in-place directive for residents. Officials have since confirmed there is no current threat to public safety.
Constable Richard Hingley, speaking on behalf of Niagara Regional Police, commended the coordinated efforts of all agencies involved and emphasised the priority placed on protecting both residents and officers throughout the response.
Source: CBC