(3:30 p.m. update) OPP officer shot near London

A 20-year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police was shot in the head during an incident this morning in a rural area about 80 km north of London, CTV News is reporting.

It is believed the male officer was responding to a call related to a domestic situation.

Early reports indicate that he and a suspect were both taken to hospital after 15 or more shots were fired.

Members of the Special Investigations Unit are at the scene.

At 4 o'clock today, OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, Deputy Commissioner Chris Lewis and Western Region Command staff will hold a news conference to brief the media on the ongoing investigation.

SooToday.com will provide a further update shortly after 4.

The OPP issued the following news release earlier this afternoon:

************************** OPP officer shot

ORILLIA, ON (March 8) - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is confirming that an OPP officer has been shot while responding to an occurrence today at approximately 10:30 a.m.

The officer, from the OPP Huron County Detachment, has been transported to hospital [in London] by air ambulance.

The investigation is ongoing and no other details are available for release at this time.

Further details will be released as they become available.

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