A man shot dead by police after reports of a person with a rifle forced several schools into lockdown in Toronto Thursday in fact had a pellet gun, Ontario's police watchdog says.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) also says the man was 27.

Toronto Police Chief James Ramer said officers were called to the Port Union area of Scarborough around 1 p.m. for reports of a person with a gun.

He said officers were "confronted" by an individual, who he confirmed was dead.

Ramer declined to provide further details, citing an investigation by the SIU.

The SIU confirmed to CBC News Friday morning that a pellet gun was recovered at the scene. 

SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette said preliminary details indicate two police officers fired their weapons at the suspect.

Police won't say if the man was holding the gun when police found him.The investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to police shooting the man," Denette said.

The agency says it has assigned four investigators and three forensic investigators to the case.

A post-mortem for the man is scheduled tomorrow.

Five schools near Maberley Crescent and Oxhorn Road: Joseph Howe Senior Public School, Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute, Charlottetown Junior Public School, Centennial Road Junior Public School, and William G. Davis Junior Public School went into lockdown as a precautionary measure, Ramer told reporters.

The incident comes just two days after a gunman entered a Texas elementary school classroom and killed 19 children and two teachers.Police said after the shooting that there was no wider threat to public safety, but that officers would be stepping up patrols near the schools for the time being.