Hamilton police say 2 tenants killed at Stoney Creek residence, man barricaded inside ‘no longer a threat’

Hamilton police say there is “no longer a threat to public safety” in Stoney Creek after two people were found dead in a home at Jones Road and Barton Street and police engaged with a man who had “barricaded himself in the residence with firearms.”

Police released a statement shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday morning, two hours after they had asked residents near 322 Jones Rd. to “shelter in their basement as a safety precaution” as they work toward a “peaceful resolution” with the man.

They said a man shot two individuals in “a landlord-tenant dispute” and that a 27-year-old female and 28-year-old male, both tenants, were found dead after police first responded to the scene around 5:40 p.m. Saturday.

According to police, the 57-year-old landlord then barricaded himself inside. Police said he had firearms registered to him.

“Hamilton Police Emergency Response Unit contained the area, while negotiators engaged in contact with the male in an attempt to peacefully resolve the incident,” police said.

“At one point during the negotiations, the suspect fired at the Hamilton Police armoured vehicle. The suspect later fired additional rounds, which resulted in an interaction with police.”

Police did not say what resulted in the interaction or why exactly there is “no longer a threat,” but said the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was notified and “has invoked their mandate.”

The SIU investigates the conduct of police officers when they shoot at someone, as well as incidents involving police that result in death or serious injury.

Police said families of both victims were notified but that the victims’s names would not be released at this time.

They also asked any witnesses to come forward and said they would remain in the area “for sometime,” asking people to continue to avoid the area.