Man Sentenced to Nine Years Following Police-Involved Shooting in Markham
A man has been convicted and sentenced to nine years in custody by the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket, following a police-involved shooting in July 2025.
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, York Regional Police attempted to stop a stolen vehicle in Markham. The driver did not stop and collided with police vehicles. Officers boxed in the vehicle in Toronto, where the suspect discharged a firearm at police. An officer discharged their firearm, striking the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
On Friday, March 27, 2026, 31-year-old Kuot Akol was found guilty of several charges, including Aggravated Assault of a Peace Officer and Discharge Firearm with Intent. Akol had previously been released on bail for firearms offences committed in Toronto between 2022 and 2023. In February 2025, Akol removed his GPS ankle monitoring device, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On February 27, 2025, Akol was convicted and sentenced in absentia by the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto, receiving an eight-year sentence.
Akol has been sentenced to an additional nine years for the York Regional Police charges. This sentence is to be served consecutively to his existing sentence in Toronto.