Additional charges laid against man accused of opening fire at officers in Welland

Members of Niagara Regional Police position themselves along Plymouth Road, close to the location where an officer was shot in Welland, Ont., while police were responding to reports of gunfire, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

A man accused of opening fire at Niagara police officers last month is facing additional charges in connection with the standoff in Welland.

Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) provided the update on the Dec. 19 incident in a news release on Tuesday.

The accused, 59-year-old Daniel Tronko, allegedly opened fire on officers who attended a residence on Second Street at around 7:45 a.m. to assist bylaw officers.

NRPS said one police officer was struck in the chest and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Tronko allegedly barricaded himself inside the home, and police tried to negotiate with him. A shelter-in-place was issued as a result.

During the negotiations, which lasted throughout the evening and overnight hours, officers deployed remote cameras into the residence, and Tronko allegedly fired at them.

On the morning of Dec. 20, Tronko was arrested and later taken to a hospital for a gunshot wound he sustained during his initial interaction with police, wherein officers discharged their guns at him when he opened fire.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating that interaction.

In Tuesday’s update, NRPS said their homicide unit has taken the lead in the investigation and charged Tronko with 20 more offences, including six counts of attempted murder and six counts of discharge of a firearm with intent.

He was initially charged with one count each of attempted murder, discharge with intent, reckless discharge of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a firearm.