A tragic incident unfolded this past Saturday in Ontario, Canada, as a landlord-tenant dispute spiraled out of control. The disagreement ended in three deaths, including that of a young couple.
Authorities are piecing together the harrowing events that took place in the usually peaceful Stoney Creek neighborhood in Hamilton. Police reached the scene around 5:40 p.m., following a distress call.
Authorities discovered the lifeless bodies of 27-year-old Carissa MacDonald and 28-year-old Aaron Stone. The couple was renting a house where they were found shot dead.
The landlord, a 57-year-old man, had barricaded himself in the home, armed with firearms registered under his name. The Hamilton Police Department shared that efforts were made to negotiate a peaceful resolution for several hours. Monica Hudon, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), said they had opened a probe into the landlord’s death.
As negotiations continued over the phone, the landlord opened fire multiple times at a police vehicle. The standoff ended at about 10 p.m., when the suspect engaged in a shootout with a police officer, leading to his demise on the scene, as per the SIU.
The deceased couple, MacDonald, an educational assistant, and Stone, an electrician, were engaged. The confirmation of their identities came from the Hamilton Police on Tuesday after obtaining consent from their grieving families.
Evidence gathered by police indicates that the couple was attempting to escape when they were fatally shot.
Details surrounding the conflict between the landlord and the tenants remain uncertain. However, Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk confirmed it was not linked to missed rental payment but hinted at a potential disagreement about the home’s condition. He refrained from sharing additional information due to the ongoing investigation.