A landlord shot and killed a young, engaged couple residing in his building following a housing dispute.
The landlord’s life ended in a police encounter later the same day.
The incident occurred on May 27 when the unnamed 57-year-old landlord turned a firearm on his tenants, Carissa MacDonald, 27, and Aaron Stone, 28, at their home on 322 Jones Road in Stoney Creek, Ontario. The Hamilton Police Department received a report of the shooting around 5:40 pm.
Upon arriving at the scene, police discovered that MacDonald and Stone had already died from their injuries. Hamilton Detective Sergeant Steve Bereziuk shared the heartbreaking details during a Sunday morning press briefing, stating the victims were trying to escape when they were fatally shot. Bereziuk emphasized that the victims were innocent and their deaths were deeply tragic.
Following the shootings, the landlord holed up in the house, armed with multiple firearms, all registered legally in his name. Despite negotiations spanning several hours, the landlord began firing at a police vehicle and officers around 10 pm. The police returned fire, resulting in the landlord’s death.
The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has taken over the investigation. The unit, consisting of six investigators and four forensic specialists, will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The couple, recently engaged and planning their wedding, had vibrant futures ahead of them: MacDonald was working as an educational assistant, and Stone was in training to be an electrician. Detective Sgt. Bereziuk confirmed that the dispute centered on the state of the property, rather than unpaid rent.
