Ontario announces inquest into fatal 2018 Hamilton police shooting of Quinn MacDougall, 19

An inquest will be held into the April 2018 death of Quinn MacDougall, the regional supervising coroner for west region's Hamilton office, Dr. Karen Schiff, announced Wednesday. 

The inquest is expected to begin Feb. 28. 

The 19-year-old was fatally shot during an interaction with the Hamilton Police Service after making several distraught 911 calls, reporting a man with a gun who he said was out to get him. 

He died in hospital after he was shot near his home, shortly after police arrived. 

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontario's police watchdog, has since cleared the police officers involved of any misconduct. 

SIU also reported that multiple witnesses came forward alleging that MacDougall was armed with a knife at the time of the interaction, and that he lunged at the officers with it.

The inquest, mandatory under the Coroners Act, will examine the events leading up to and surrounding MacDougall's death, Dr. Schiff said in a media release.

Expected to last 10 days, the inquest will call upon approximately 21 witnesses. The "jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths," the advisory said.

Previously, the scheduling of the inquest was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be available to the public via video conference. 

Case raised questions over crisis calls

The day MacDougall was shot, it was reported that he appeared to be panicked. He called 911 after an alleged threat was made to him over Snapchat. 

MacDougall's parents said that their son did not previously struggle with mental health issues. 

The case questions how police deal with those in crises, and left his family wondering how MacDougall's 911 calls resulted in his death.

Shortly after his death, MacDougall's sister Clara wondered why a special unit for those in vulnerable states wasn't dispatched.

"They say that they do training to deal with de-escalation, but I don't think it's enough," she said at the time. 

During a Hamilton Police Services Board meeting that Clara and others protested at in May, 2018, then-Hamilton Police Chief Eric Girt said those calling with crises get "quality, timely and coordinated service."