TORONTO, July 30: A Toronto police officer was suspended with pay after he fatally shot a young man wielding a knife in an empty streetcar, police said on Monday, as hundreds of people in Canada's largest city protested the shooting that was caught on video and posted on YouTube.

Some protesters called it unnecessary police force.

A former Toronto police detective who saw the video said it appeared that “excessive” force had been used. Investigators were looking into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the city's police chief said.

The video shows 18-year-old Sammy Yatim holding a knife inside the streetcar early on Saturday, with police outside.

Yatim goads police while officers yell, “Drop your knife!” Shortly after, three shots are fired. After a pause, six more shots are fired. A Taser is later used on Yatim. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, which is charged with carrying out independent investigations of police shootings, was examining the shooting.

The SIU said Yatim died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella confirmed the officer involved has been suspended with pay.—AP