New details emerge on landlord who allegedly shot engaged couple near Hamilton, Ont.
New information has emerged about the fatal shooting of an engaged couple fleeing their landlord after a dispute near Hamilton, Ont.
Property records obtained by CTV News Toronto indicate the owner of the house – located at 322 Jones Rd., near Barton Street, in Stoney Creek – was under the name Terry Brekka.
Since 2003, the property has been in his name, according to records.
On Saturday, the couple was shot dead after they attempted to flee the residence from their 57-year-old landlord who had barricaded himself in the house with multiple guns registered in his name.
Longtime neighbours said Brekka lived in the upper floors of the house and the couple – a 27-year-old female educational assistant and a 28-year-old male electrician — lived in the basement.
A family member of Brekka’s told CTV News Toronto he was a steelworker who was estranged from some relatives, and that he wasn’t known to have guns.
Tony Greenly, who had lived next door to Brekka for 16 years, said he never saw the man with any weapons but he felt intimidated by him.
A police officer takes photographs at the scene of a homicide investigation in the area of Jones Road and Barton Street in Hamilton, Ont. Sunday, May 28, 2023. Police say three people are dead following landlord-tenant dispute that became a stand off at a residence late Saturday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick IwanyshynSandra Chaisson, a resident who has lived in the area for more than four decades, said the landlord bought the house on Jones Road from her grandparents.
“I can't believe he had weapons registered … I don’t know him well. It just seems out of character,” she said.
“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,” Chaisson said.
Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk said investigators are not in a position to release suspect or victim names at this point in time.
“I do believe we’ll be in a position at some point to do that,” Bereziuk said speaking to reporters at the scene on Monday.
On Tuesday, he said he will be travelling a considerable distance out of town to sit down with the families impacted.
“You can imagine the families are really nothing short of broken right now,” he said.
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