Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Const. Ryan Vendramin, 26, is reportedly in stable condition and recovering after being shot and seriously injured after gunfire was exchanged during an incident on Pine Street Sunday morning.
A 19-year-old was shot and killed by police during the early morning incident. Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is handling the investigation.
There’s been a public outpouring of support and well wishes from dozens of people after Vendramin’s parents posted an update on their son’s condition to social media Monday morning.
“‘Will I still be able to play sports?’ were the first words Ryan asked when he woke from surgery. He is stable and in recovery waiting on more doctors,” reads the post from Mark and Sheila Vendramin’s joint social media account. “Our family’s world has been at an absolute stand still. Thank you for the outpouring of messages, emails and calls with prayers for Ryan.”
“Ryan is a hero and we are forever grateful he is alive. Please continue praying for Ryan and for a full recovery. Hug your loved ones tight.”
Sault College director of human resources and communications Rick Webb says the college is hoping and praying for a full recovery.
Vendramin, who was named American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2 national player of the year in 2020 as a member of the Sault College Cougars, graduated from the police foundations program at Sault College last year.
Webb said Vendramin is “forever a cougar.”
“Scary what happened, and we’re grateful he is doing better and on the road to recovery. So we’re thrilled about that, and still praying for him and his family,” Webb said.
Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board Chair John Bruno calls Vendramin a “real hero” to the community he serves.
“I’m a little emotional about things, because when we have an incident like that, it’s traumatic to the community and to the force. And certainly, we feel for everybody,” Bruno said.
Bruno hopes for the best for Vendramin and his family.
“These things are never simple, they’re always complicated. At this point, we’re just praying that everybody’s okay, including our community.”
Vendramin was sworn in as a member of Sault Ste. Marie Police Service in December 2020, according to a social media post from police service.
Sootoday has reached out to Vendramin's parents and Sault Ste. Marie Police Service for information.