Ontario is set to begin a judicial inquest into the shooting death of then-19-year-old Quinn MacDougall in 2018 after an interaction with the Hamilton Police Service.
The county’s coroner’s office in Hamilton has announced that the investigation will begin on February 28.
The investigation is expected to last 10 days and hear from about 21 witnesses.
“The judicial inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. MacDougall’s death is being investigated, “said the regional supervising coroner, Dr. Karen Schiff said in a release.
“The jury can make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.”
Read more:
SIU clears Hamilton police officers in 2018 fatal shooting of 19-year-old
MacDougall was shot in the late afternoon of April 3, 2018 on Hamilton’s Mountain after police responded to several 911 calls made about a “man with a gun.”
Police contacted MacDougall at a townhouse complex in Caledon Avenue north of Tyrone Drive.
A Special Investigation Unit (SOE) report said several witnesses shared similar stories with investigators alleging that MacDougall, armed with a knife, was charged without warning by the civilian officer, who was sitting in a vehicle.
The SIU cleared officers after finding that the shots fired by the police were justified.
The forensic autopsy will be public and is expected to be conducted by videoconference. Dr. David Eden will chair the coroner’s office and Graeme Leach will chair the coroner’s inquiry.
Global News reached out to Hamilton police for comment.
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