'Forever shattered': Family of teen twins shot by police launches $17.5M lawsuit

[Michael Jack]

'Liam is dead and Dylan has to live the rest of his life without his twin and best friend by his side. We will never trust the police again,' family says in statement

The parents of two Innisfil teenagers shot by South Simcoe police officers — one fatally — have launched a lawsuit, claiming police exhibited “high-handed, shocking and contemptuous conduct” during the Aug. 15, 2024 shooting.

Bill Hatton and Robin Jackson are seeking $17.5 million in damages for the death of Liam and the shooting of his 19-year-old twin brother, Dylan, on Shoreview Drive in Innisfil during a domestic dispute call.

In a prepared statement, the parents said their family has been “forever shattered.”

“We never imagined that calling the police for help would end with them killing Liam and almost killing Dylan. The officers were not interested in listening to us when we told them what we knew about our sons and how best to help them,” the statement released to the media says. “They treated the situation like a tactical operation rather than a call for assistance.

"They dehumanized Liam, Dylan and the rest of our family," the statement adds. "This should never have been the result of a call for help. Liam is dead and Dylan has to live the rest of his life without his twin and best friend by his side. We will never trust the police again.”

The parents claim police never called in a mental health support unit despite being told of the twins’ cognitive processing limitations, their intellectual delay and Dylan’s attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The lawsuit, filed on July 14 in the Superior Court of Justice, names six individual officers, the chief and the police services board.

South Simcoe police issued a prepared statement, saying the service is aware of the civil claim.

“As the matter is subject to a legal process, and out of respect for the integrity of the judicial process, the service is unable to comment or provide further information at this time,” the statement says.

About four months after the shooting, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) cleared the officers of any wrongdoing.

The SIU concluded Dec. 16, 2024 that the officers “acted with the purpose of defending themselves and/or their colleagues from a reasonably apprehended attack when they fired their weapons.”

“I am also satisfied that the officers’ gunfire constituted reasonable force,” SIU director Joseph Martino said at the time.

But Hatton family lawyer Asha James said the civil process will place the conduct of police on that day under further scrutiny.

“These events have been devastating for the Hatton family. They called for help during a mental health crisis and instead were forced to experience the worst day of their lives,” James said in a prepared statement.

According to the statement of claim, Liam was driving slowly toward a commanding South Simcoe officer with his brother, Dylan, in the passenger seat because they had misinterpreted the officer’s hand signals to shut off the engine of the SUV they were in.

“(The officer) immediately drew his firearm and fired five bullets at the SUV, targeting Liam. His shots penetrated the windshield. One bullet struck Liam in the head. He immediately became unresponsive and was no longer in control of the SUV,” the lawsuit states.

After the vehicle came to a full stop, Dylan climbed over his brother and got behind the wheel. According to the claim, the commanding officer was the first to fire his gun. As he began shooting at Dylan, he commanded the other officers to open fire on Dylan.

Dylan, who was shot five times, continues to recover, but still experiences pain related to his physical injuries.

“He has been unable to regularly participate in swimming, hiking and bike riding, which he often did before the incident,” the claim states.

Dylan has been clinically diagnosed with major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the ordeal, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also names Ontario Provincial Police officers for their role and interrogation of Dylan before he was charged with assaulting a police officer in December 2024.

The Crown later withdrew all the charges against Dylan.

None of the allegations in the civil lawsuit have been tested in court.

— With files from Peter Robinson and Chris Simon

https://www.barrietoday.com/court/forev ... t-12581270

https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/court/f ... t-12585035

[Michael Jack]

The family of two teens shot by police in the summer of 2024 has launched a $17.5-million lawsuit against the South Simcoe Police Service, four of its officers, and the Ontario Provincial Police.

Police were called to a home on Shoreview Drive in Innisfil, east of Barrie, on Aug. 15, 2024, following reports of a family dispute. According to the Special Investigations Unit, twin brothers Liam and Dylan Hatton were in an SUV and refused to come out of the vehicle. Shots were fired by the police when the vehicle began moving towards them, striking Liam in the head and killing him. The police watchdog then said Dylan put the vehicle in reverse and was also struck by gunfire from the police. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Following the shooting, the Ontario Provincial Police conducted a parallel investigation into the incident and ended up charging Dylan Hatton with four counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The subsequent SIU investigation cleared four South Simcoe officers of any wrongdoing in the shooting, saying “the officers acted with the purpose of defending themselves and their colleagues when they fired their weapons.”

Lawyer Asha James called the events “devastating” for the family, adding that the lawsuit seeks accountability for Liam’s death.

“They called for help during a mental health crisis and instead were forced to experience the worst day of their lives,” James said in a statement. “The civil process presents an opportunity for the family to ensure that police conduct will be put under closer scrutiny.”

The parents of Liam and Dylan say the police treated the situation like a “tactical operation” rather than a call for help, adding it has shattered their confidence in the police.

“We never imagined that calling the police for help would end with them killing Liam and almost killing Dylan,” they said in a statement. “The officers were not interested in listening to us when we told them what we knew about our sons and how best to help them.

“They dehumanized Liam, Dylan, and the rest of our family. This should never have been the result of a call for help.”

James added that the lawsuit also seeks to look into the OPP’s conduct, noting the charges against Dylan were later withdrawn on Oct. 5, 2025, after the Crown determined they would not be able to prove the case “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/07/22/ ... by-police/

[Michael Jack]

A $17.5 million lawsuit has been filed by an Innisfil family of two teens who were shot by police nearly two years ago.

The lawsuit names four officers with the South Simcoe Police Service, and the Ontario Provincial Police.

On Aug. 15, 2024, police were called to a home on Shoreview Drive in Innisfil after a report of a family dispute.

The province's Special Investigations Unit said Liam and Dylan Hatton, who were 19-year-old twin brothers, were in an SUV and refused to get out of the vehicle. Police fired shots when the vehicle started moving toward them, and Liam was struck in the head and died. According to the SIU, Dylan put the vehicle in reverse and was also shot by the police, and he was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

A separate investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police into the incident resulted in charges being laid against Dylan Hatton that included four counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

An investigation by the SIU concluded "the officers acted with the purpose of defending themselves and their colleagues when they fired their weapons," and the South Simcoe officers were cleared of any wrongdoing.

"Our family has been forever shattered," Bill Hatton and Robin Jackson, parents of Liam and Dylan, said in a statement. "We never imagined that calling the police for help would end with them killing Liam and almost killing Dylan. The officers were not interested in listening to us when we told them what we knew about our sons and how best to help them."

Lawyer Asha James, in a statement, called the events "devastating" for the Hatton family.

"They called for help during a mental health crisis and instead were forced to experience the worst day of their lives," James said.

She added that the civil process presents an opportunity for the family to ensure that police conduct will be put under closer scrutiny.

"They treated the situation like a tactical operation rather than a call for assistance," said the parents of Liam and Dylan. "They dehumanized Liam, Dylan, and the rest of our family. This should never have been the result of a call for help."

James added that the OPP's conduct was also concerning.

"The decision to lay charges against Dylan, despite him only ever being a victim in this tragedy, raises troubling questions about the handling of this matter and may further undermine public confidence in law enforcement agencies."

Charges against Dylan were withdrawn in Oct. 2025 after the Crown said they would not be able to prove the case "beyond a reasonable doubt."

https://barrie360.com/17-5-million-laws ... on-family/

[Michael Jack]

Police unable to comment on case, officers still employed with service: spokesperson

A family in Innisfil, Ont. is suing six officers with the South Simcoe Police Service for $17.5 million after a 2024 incident left one of their sons dead and the other injured.

The statement of claim, filed on July 14, names several other defendants, including the South Simcoe police chief and members of the Ontario Provincial Police, for negligence and wrongful conduct.

On Aug. 15, 2024, officers were called to the Innisfil home, about 75 kilometres north of Toronto, due to a family dispute, according to a report by the Special Investigations Unit.

An altercation with police led to the shooting death of Liam Hatton and "lifelong injuries" for Dylan Hatton, both of whom were 19 years old at the time, said the statement of claim.

The men's parents, Bill Hatton and Robin Jackson, said in a statement on Wednesday that the family has been "forever shattered" and lost trust in the police.

The family's lawyer Asha James said in a statement that the family called police for help "during a mental health crisis."

The family says it provided information on how to help the boys, but police treated the incident as "a tactical operation," instead of "a call for assistance."

"This should never have been the result of a call for help. Liam is dead and Dylan has to live the rest of his life without his twin and best friend by his side," said the parents.

James said they are looking for accountability for Liam's death and for the "concerning" conduct by OPP after they decided to press charges against Dylan.

"The civil process presents an opportunity for the family to ensure that police conduct will be put under closer scrutiny," she said.

Police called to home, shot at brothers in moving vehicle

According to the SIU report, police located Liam and Dylan in a vehicle at the home shortly after they arrived and spoke to the rest of the family.

The report states an officer told them to "shut the car off" to talk, but instead the men drove the vehicle towards the officer, prompting him to shoot "multiple rounds."

One of the men, identified by the family as Liam, was "slumped forward" in the driver's seat as police told them to get their hands up, said the SIU. The report said Dylan then moved into the driver's seat and began to reverse the vehicle, where another officer was standing.

The SIU said officers shot at the vehicle again, then removed the men from the stopped vehicle and provided first aid. The two men were later taken to Royal Victoria Hospital for gunshot wounds.

Liam died from a "gunshot wound of head" and Dylan survived after "multiple surgeries," said the statement of claim.

The SIU report, which was released on Dec. 12, 2024, found police used "reasonable force" to defend themselves and that there was no basis for criminal charges against the officers.

The family is also suing the OPP after it laid seven charges against Dylan, including for assaulting a peace officer with a weapon and dangerous operation of a vehicle. Those charges were later withdrawn by the Crown in October 2025.

The family claims in the lawsuit that OPP officers committed harm through a "negligent investigation" and caused Dylan "emotional suffering [and] nervous shock."

The South Simcoe Police Service is aware a civil claim has been filed, but is unable to comment at this time, said spokesperson Samah Othman on Thursday. She said members mentioned in the lawsuit are still employed with the service.

In an email OPP spokesperson Gosia Puzio said provincial police are aware of the civil claim, but will not be providing any comment.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ ... -9.7280736

[Michael Jack]

A civil lawyer, who filed a $17.5 million lawsuit against South Simcoe and Ontario Provincial police, says the family of Liam and Dylan Hatton is seeking accountability following the deadly August 2024 shooting.

In the statement of claim, the lawsuit alleges South Simcoe police officers used excessive force in the shooting that killed Liam Hatton and wounded his brother Dylan, who was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition.

“The Hatton family decided to file this lawsuit because they want accountability and they want answers,” said Asha James, managing partner at Falconers LLP.

“Of course, we understand that officers need to ensure their safety as well, but they are trained for these situations and in our point of view, they did not handle the situation appropriately. Liam should be alive today and he’s not.”

The Hatton family, James states, has been devastated by the tragedy and regrets having called police for help.

“To have called police for assistance on that day and for it to have ended the way it had ended, is just unimaginable,” said the lawyer.

“The Hatton family is seeking accountability. They want those who were responsible for the killing of their son Liam and injuring Dylan and the emotional trauma that this has brought onto the family to bear the consequences of that.”

South Simcoe police officers had responded to a call for help from the Hatton family at their Shoreview Drive home at about 3 p.m. Aug. 15, 2024. The lawsuit claims the family called police to report a domestic disturbance with the teens being in the midst of a ‘mental health crisis.’

A Special Investigations Unit (SIU) probe cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing months later. The report concluded the police officers faced the “very real possibility” of being run over when Dylan Hatton tried to reverse the SUV he had taken control of when his brother was shot for trying to drive away, despite being told to get out of the vehicle.

The lawsuit argues police officers ignored the family’s request to help de-escalate the situation, saying Liam and Dylan got behind the wheel of an SUV and tried to leave the property. Liam was shot in the head and killed. Dylan grabbed the wheel and was shot five times by three officers. The report concluded the actions of the responding officers were “not unjustified.”

Following a parallel and separate investigation by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Dylan Hatton, who suffered severe injuries, was charged with four counts of assaulting an officer along with assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and dangerous driving. Those charges were dropped in October 2025.

Hatton’s criminal defence lawyer, Adam Weisberg, told CTV News his client was wrongly charged by police in the first place.

“On my review of the body cam footage, which was inconsistent with the police notes, it was clear that Mr. Hatton should never have been shot by police. Mr. Hatton should never have been charged by police,” Weisberg said.

The family’s civil lawsuit also questions the techniques and standards used by the OPP in the subsequent investigation that led to the charges against Dylan Hatton.

“The police officers are there to serve and protect and to preserve life,” James told CTV News.

Both police services acknowledged being aware of the lawsuit but declined to comment further while the matter proceeds through the judicial system.

The respondents have about three weeks to file a statement of defence. The allegations against them have not been tested in court.

https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/0 ... -shooting/