Engaged couple shot dead fleeing landlord after house dispute near Hamilton, Ont., police say
A “truly innocent” engaged couple was shot dead while attempting to flee their attacker outside their home after a landlord-tenant dispute escalated on Saturday night, according to Hamilton police.
Officers said a 27-year-old female and 28-year-old male who were engaged to be married were shot dead outside their residence at 322 Jones Rd., near Barton Street, in Stoney Creek, on Saturday at around 5:40 p.m. after a disagreement surrounding issues within the house.
Hamilton police on scene after a landlord-tenant dispute left three dead in a residence in Stoney Creek. (Simon Sheehan/CP24)"These are not people that this should happen to, they're not involved in any level of criminality or lifestyle that may lead to an incident like this. They're truly innocent," Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk said on Sunday.
He said the woman was an educational assistant for the Catholic school board in Brant County, while the man worked as an electrician in Hamilton.
"(They were) both hardworking people, adding to the tragedy of this event," Bereziuk said, adding that no one involved in this incident was known to police.
On Saturday night, the building’s 57-year-old landlord had barricaded himself in the residence with multiple guns that were registered to him, including handguns and long rifles, according to police.
At approximately 10 p.m., there was an exchange of gunfire between the man and a police officer after hours of attempted negotiations, according to a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) release Sunday.
The man was struck and pronounced deceased at the scene. His death is now under investigation by the SIU, Ontario's police watchdog.
More than a dozen investigators and officials have been appointed to the case, the SIU said.
Hamilton police provide an update on the double homicide of an engaged couple on Sunday, May 28, 2023 (Simon Sheehan/CP24).
'OUT OF CHARACTER'
Sandra Chaisson, a resident of more than four decades in the area of the incident, said the landlord bought the house on Jones Road from her grandparents.
“He was very quiet. A very quiet man. I didn't see him much, just to wave hello, but I haven't seen him for a long time,” she said.
“The tenants were in the basement, but I didn't know them, just to see them at the mailbox kind of thing,” she said, adding that the incident seemed “out of character.”
Chaisson said she was watching TV a little after 10 p.m. when she heard six to eight rapid shots fired. “It was rather scary,” she said. “It’s a shock to all of us.”
At around 10:30 p.m., police asked people in the vicinity to “shelter in their basement as a safety precaution” as negotiators communicated with the suspect “in an attempt to peacefully resolve the incident.”
Hours later, just before 1 a.m., Hamilton police said in a tweet that the situation had been “contained.”
“There is no ongoing risk to public safety. Police will remain in the area for sometime as we continue to investigate. Please continue to avoid the area,” they wrote.
Ontario’s Special Investigation Unit has been called following an interaction with a man believed to be responsible for a double homicide in Stoney Creek. (Simon Sheehan/CP24)
Police said at one point during the negotiations, the man fired at their armoured vehicle. “The suspect later fired additional rounds, which resulted in an interaction with police,” Hamilton police said.
The families of both victims have been notified, but for now the names of the victims are not being released, police said.
Investigators are asking witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to contact Det. Robert DiIanni at 905-546-3836, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.