Cops talk to downtown gunman

City Police are swarming downtown Sault Ste. Marie this morning, after shots were fired in the area of Queen and Gore Streets.

SooToday.com's Tyler Simpson advises that the police attention seems to be focussed on a rooftop in the area of Joe's Sports and Surplus at 40 Queen Street East.

Police have confirmed that shots were fired in the area earlier this morning.

They say they have the suspect contained and are talking to him.

A SooToday.com reader who lives in the area tells us that he was awake around 4 a.m. and jumped out of his chair when he heard gunfire.

"I saw a guy walking... in a laneway towards the RiverRock," our reader says.

"The police told him to drop his weapon. They told him several times. He just mouthed off back at them, telling the officers to shut up.

SooToday.com's Tyler Simpson shot some video, which will be uploaded shortly.

This witness says the suspect is a tall male wearing a white t-shirt and shorts.

The following news release was issued at 6:55 a.m.:

************************* City Police are currently dealing with an incident involving a male with a firearm in the downtown area.

Police negotiators are in communication with the male at this time and have him contained.

City police are requesting the public to avoid the downtown area, specifically, the Wellington Street East, Albert Street, Queen Street and Bay Street section from Tancred to Gore Street.

The area has been barricaded and closed off to all pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

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