'Our loving family is shattered,' says mother of slain Toronto police officer

To his fuss, Linda, Marc Pinizzotto was "an unbelievable padre, boy, hubby, coach and friend of many."

To the people across the country sending condolences and tributes in the wake his death in the line of duty, the Toronto police officer was a hero.

In a tribute to her son posted on social media Friday, Linda Pinizzotto said her family is devastated by his loss, but thankful for the outpouring of grief they have received.

"We are forever sincerely grateful for your heartfelt blessings, wonderful messages of condolence, and kindness," she wrote. "His passing echoes deep inside us, our loving family is shattered as we search for words."

Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, died after being shot at a fourth-floor apartment building in northwest Toronto Thursday, as officers carried out an investigation into multiple shootings, including one at the U.S. Consulate in March.

Hours after his death, hundreds of officers stood shoulder to shoulder, some wiping their eyes, as a procession carried Pinizzotto's body from Sunnybrook hospital to the office of the chief coroner. Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw tearfully called him a "hero in life, not death."

There have been tributes from a number of officials, including Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and Prime Minister Mark Carney.

At the House of Commons Thursday, legislators began question period by grieving the fallen officer, saying Ottawa was supporting the investigation into his killing.

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Mayor Chow, who said she’s known Pinizzotto’s mother for years, said she was grateful for the constable’s service, and his family’s grief was shared by the people of Toronto.

Premier Ford extended his condolences to Pinizzotto's family and colleagues, saying in a post on X that the shooting was "a sobering reminder of the sacrifices and risks faced by police officers across Ontario every day as they work to keep our province safe."

Several Toronto city councillors and Greater Toronto Area police services also released statements paying tribute to Pinizzotto Thursday. The CN Tower said its bright lights were expected to dim for the first five minutes of every hour on Thursday night.

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Pinizzotto's death came days after Ontario Provincial Police Const. Tarun Bali was struck and killed by a vehicle near the northern Ontario town of Hearst, east of Thunder Bay. A procession transporting Bali to a funeral home in Thornhill was scheduled for Friday morning.

Police say 19-year-old Nicholas Bennett faces a first-degree murder charge in connection to Pinizzotto's death. They say Bennett was shot multiple times in the exchange of gunfire and remains in hospital.

A second suspect, 19-year-old Zara Jabbi, is on the loose. Police say Jabbi is wanted in the consulate shooting and should be considered armed and dangerous.

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Police say they expect to provide more information on the investigation in the coming days.

The investigation Toronto police were undertaking Thursday, which looked into multiple shootings, including an incident at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, has been linked to a recent FBI terrorism arrest.

Last month the FBI arrested Iraqi-Irani Mohammad Al-Saadi, a senior member of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, Kata’ib Hizballah, and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

He is allegedly tied to nearly 20 attacks throughout Europe and the U.S., as well as two attacks in Canada, including the consulate shooting this spring.

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