Coroner's inquest for Jason Peterson, shot by Hamilton police in 2020, announced by Ontario

Ontario's Ministry of the Solicitor General on Wednesday announced a coroner's inquest into the death of Jason Peterson, the 42-year-old who was armed and in a vehicle when Hamilton police shot him four years ago.

The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Peterson's death and a jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.

An inquest is mandatory in this case as there was police involvement.

Peterson was shot on July 7, 2020, in a convenience store parking lot at Cannon Street East and Gage Avenue North. He died in hospital a day later.

Ontario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), investigated and found the officers involved did nothing wrong.

The SIU investigates police interactions that result in death, serious injury, sexual assault or shooting at someone.

Stolen vehicle found in parking lot

The SIU's report said the mother of Peterson's ex-girlfriend called police at about 3:30 p.m., saying Peterson was armed with a sawed-off shotgun and holding her daughter hostage at her home on Ottawa Street North.

The report also said he "wanted to die at the hands of the police."

Police had already connected Peterson with a stolen Buick, the report said. Officers found it at about 4 p.m in the corner store parking lot.

Police blocked the vehicle and approached.

Peterson was in the passenger seat of the Buick, according to the SIU. He tried to shoot at police as they opened the door on the driver's side, according to the report.

It said Peterson "made it instantly clear that he was not about to peacefully surrender to police" and officers had "little option other than to return fire."

"In the circumstances, withdrawing from the scene was untenable as it risked the very real possibility of a further hostage situation," reads the report.

"More to the point, the subject officers were then and there confronted with an armed individual they had every reason to believe would again fire his weapon."

Peterson's daughter, Mackenzie, spoke at a news conference weeks after the shooting, saying: "Aren't police trained to not kill? Aren't they trained to serve and protect? If that is true, why was he shot in the back of the head? Why was pulling their guns their first option when they had many other ways to detain him?

"When you're shot in the back of the head, there's no saving you."

The ministry said further details about the inquest, including when and where it will be held, will be released at a later date.