A Canadian man shot early Sunday by U.S. border agents after he waved what appeared to be a handgun at them on the Ambassador Bridge was actually holding “a replica of a handgun,” authorities said late Sunday.
“The individual stopped his car before approaching the inspection booth, exited his vehicle and started walking towards the primary inspection lanes waving a handgun,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) spokesman Kris Grogan said in a statement.
“CBP Officers ordered the man to drop his weapon to which he did not comply. After pointing the weapon in the direction of the officers, CBP Officers fired upon the individual who fell to the ground.
“The individual was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released for his injuries.”
The man is now in custody.
According to the Windsor Star the man has had previous encounters with Canadian law enforcement.
The Star reported that at 2:40 a.m. the man was seen with a gun in a Windsor, Ont., McDonald’s parking lot in a Ford Explorer.
Windsor police ordered him to drop the weapon, which he then pointed at police.
The Star reported that the man told cops, “Why haven’t you shot me yet?”
The man got back into his vehicle and drove over a curb and sidewalk to evade police.
Twenty minutes later, he was at the Ambassador Bridge.
Agencies/Canadajournal