A landlord shot and killed a young, engaged couple residing in his building following a housing dispute.
The dispute over housing conditions in Stoney Creek, Ontario, ended fatally when a landlord shot his two tenants and later died in a police encounter.
On May 27, a 57-year-old landlord, whose identity is not yet disclosed, shot his tenants, Carissa MacDonald, 27, and Aaron Stone, 28, at their residence on 322 Jones Road. The Hamilton Police Department was alerted to the shooting incident around 5:40 pm.
Upon arrival, officers found that MacDonald and Stone had succumbed to their injuries. Hamilton Detective Sergeant Steve Bereziuk, who briefed the media on Sunday morning, described the incident as a heartrending event, stating the victims were trying to escape when they were shot. He confirmed their innocence, highlighting the tragic circumstances.
The landlord retreated into the house afterward, arming himself with several legally registered firearms. Despite hours of negotiation attempts, the situation escalated around 10 pm when the landlord opened fire at a police vehicle and the officers on-site. Police returned fire, resulting in the landlord’s death.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is now probing the case, a standard procedure in incidents involving police actions. The unit is composed of six investigators and four forensic specialists.
The slain couple, who were in the process of planning their wedding, had recently gotten engaged. MacDonald was an educational assistant, and Stone was training to become an electrician. Detective Sgt. Bereziuk confirmed that the fatal dispute was not over unpaid rent, but pertained to the property’s condition.