WARNING: Video contains disturbing content.
A Toronto police officer pleaded guilty on Aug. 27 to criminal charges after he shot and seriously injured a Black man in 2023, the victim's lawyer said, as court documents show the man was backing away from police at the time of the incident.
David Shellnutt said his client, Devon Fowlin, was in a park with his dog the morning of Feb. 27, 2023 and was not a threat to police when officers shot him with tasers and a firearm after Fowlin put a knife to his own neck.
Dramatic police body worn camera videos were played in court on Aug. 27, showing Fowlin being tased and shot.
An agreed statement of facts said Fowlin was backing away from police officers while he held the knife, and two officers fired tasers at him. At one point one officer yelled, "Oh my god shoot him," the document said, before Const. Andrew Davis fired two shots at Fowlin, leaving him with multiple injuries.
Toronto police and the SIU declined to comment on the case. Police confirmed Davis is scheduled to be sentenced in October. (Aug. 28. 2025)