SHELTER-IN-PLACE: Police officer shot, residents asked to stay away in Niagara, Ontario

Update: A police officer was struck by gunfire Friday morning in Welland, police said in an update at 10 a.m.

The officer has been transported to hospital. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

During an unrelated press conference in Buffalo, New York, Premier Doug Ford said the officer was shot in the chest.

“The officer—she is a wonderful person—she is going to survive,” Ford said. “God bless her. I pray that everything is going to work out. I am very confident it will.”

Police said a male suspect is contained in a building.

At 10:21 a.m., police asked all residents in the affected area to “shelter-in-place immediately.”

“Lock all doors and windows and remain inside until further notice,” police said. “Avoid windows and do not leave your residence unless directed by police.”

In another update at just after 11 a.m., the province’s Special Investigations Unit said it had been notified and has invoked its mandate. Niagara Police said officers had discharged their weapons during the incident.

At around 1:40 p.m., the hold-and-secure was lifted at the Welland Hospital, however access remained restricted due to road closures in the area.

As of 2:30 p.m., residents in the immediate area remained under a shelter-in-place. Staff have been evacuated from Plymouth Public School as well as St. Mary Catholic Elementary School, police said.

It remained an active police investigation with the male suspect contained, and people are asked to stay out of the area.

Original story follows.

Police issued a shelter-in-place alert after a shooting in the Niagara Region on Friday morning.

The shooting was reported in the area of Plymouth Road and Lincoln and Third streets in Welland, Niagara Regional Police said on X just after 8 a.m.

Police asked people to stay out of the area as officers respond.

Schools in the immediate area, as well as the Welland Hospital, are currently in lockdown, police added.

Plymouth Public School was placed under lockdown, the District School Board of Niagara said in a statement.

Staff inside the school cannot leave and no students or staff will be admitted to the school. Parents were asked to keep their children at home until further notice. Students on school buses were transported to Diamond Trail Public School.

Police asked residents to stay out Plymouth Road and Lincoln and Third streets area of Welland. Google Maps

This is a developing story.

More information to follow as available.

Shelter In Place – Police are on scene of a shooting in the area of Plymouth/Lincoln/Third in Welland

There is a shelter in place for the area. Please stay out of the area as police respond

More information to follow as available

— NRPS (@NiagRegPolice) December 19, 2025