Police identify Hamilton couple fatally shot by landlord

Hamilton Police identified the young couple fatally shot by their landlord in a dispute over the weekend.

Investigators were called to the residence in Stoney Creek around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, and found two deceased victims. A 27-year-old female and a 28-year-old male were both tenants at the rental home.

Sgt. Steve Bereziuk described the couple as “truly innocent victims” fatally shot as they attempted to flee. The 57-year-old suspect is a landlord who lived in a unit above the tenants.

In a news release, Hamilton Police confirmed the landlord was killed in an exchange of gunfire with an officer after barricading himself inside the unit.

The suspect’s identity has not been revealed.

With the family’s permission, police identified the couple as 27-year-old Carissa MacDonald of Stoney Creek, formerly of Huntsville, Ont., and 28-year-old Aaron Stone of Hamilton.

A police spokesperson said the families of both victims are requesting privacy at this time. Investigators have interviewed several witnesses who they say are cooperating with police.

Five firearms seized from suspect’s apartment: SIU

Sgt. Bereziuk said witnesses reported hearing gunfire and described seeing the couple running out of the house late afternoon on Saturday.

He said police are trying to piece together details of the deadly altercation, which revolved around “the state of the rental unit.”

With the permission of the family, police identified the couple as 27-year-old Carissa MacDonald of Stoney Creek and 28-year-old Aaron Stone of Hamilton. Photo: Hamilton police

SIU spokeswoman Monica Hudon said the tenants lived in the home’s basement apartment while the landlord occupied the main floor and upstairs.

In an update on Tuesday, the SIU said that five firearms were collected from the residence, and one police-issued firearm was seized.

Police had previously said several handguns and rifles were registered to the house in the community of Stoney Creek where Saturday’s deadly shootings unfolded.

An SIU spokesperson confirmed that a post-mortem was conducted today on the male suspect who was shot by police.

With files from The Canadian Press