$17.5 million lawsuit filed by family of Innisfil teens shot by police

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."