Coroner calls inquest into police shooting death of Beau Baker
The Ontario Coroner's office has decided to call an inquest into the death of Beau Baker, who died on April 2, 2015, after he was shot by an officer with the Waterloo Regional Police Service.
Seven shots were fired at Baker as he stood outside his apartment building at 77 Brybeck Cresc. in Kitchener that night.
According to members of the Special Investigations Unit, he made a number of violent threats over the phone earlier that evening, threatening to kill himself and hurt others with a knife, including police, paramedics and a passerby.
The SIU determined the shooting was "legally justified," saying there were no reasonable grounds to charge the officer involved.
"I am happy for the family," said Davin Charney, lawyer for the Baker family in an ongoing civil suit.
"Up until this point, for more than a year, they have not gotten to see any evidence, they've not seen any witness statements – so the truth is really hidden from them."
Baker had known mental illness
Baker's family has said he had a documented history of mental illness and was obviously emotionally distressed when police arrived at the apartment building that night.
Jackie Baker, Beau's mother, has since filed a civil suit against the police, and police services board, for $6 million. The lawsuit will still go ahead, said lawyer Charney.
According to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the inquest will examine the events surrounding Baker's death, and may make non-binding recommendations that could prevent similar deaths.
A date and location for the inquest has not been announced.