Double homicide suspect killed himself with police outside motel. SIU clears Hamilton officers

It was still dark, sometime between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2019, when David Thomson arrived at 25 Towercrest Dr. and began damaging a pickup truck parked outside a townhouse unit.

Inside the Hamilton Mountain home, 32-year-old Cheryl Nicholl, likely alerted by the noise, came out and yelled something like: What are you doing?"

The truck belonged to her boyfriend, 62-year-old Donald Lowe, who was upstairs in bed.

But instead of retreating, Thomson chased Nicholl into the house and upstairs into the bedroom. Very quickly he turned his gun on the couple, killing them both in their bed.

This is what happened in the final moments of Nicholl's and Lowe's lives, police believe.

Staff Sgt. Dave Oleniuk, who was the case manager for the double-homicide investigation, said police sat down with both victims' families and told them everything soon after the shooting.

That's because there will never be a court case as Thomson killed himself with a single gunshot to the head in a Brantford motel room as police were closing in.

Oleniuk revealed the details of the double homicide Friday, after the Special Investigations Unit concluded its own investigation into Thomson's death. The police watchdog was called to investigate because Hamilton tactical officers from the emergency response unit were outside, trying to talk with Thomson, when he turned the gun on himself.

Hamilton police just got the gun - a Glock 22 - from the SIU and it needs to be officially examined. However, Oleniuk said police strongly believe" it's the same gun he used to kill Nicholl and Lowe.

On Friday, the SIU cleared Hamilton police of wrongdoing in Thomson's shooting death.

In his analysis, SIU Director Joseph Martino said it's not clear whether the 33-year-old had already intended to take his own life, or whether he chose to do so when he knew police had found him. What is clear is that no officers were in the room or fired their guns.

Thomson and Nicholl briefly dated many years ago, but Oleniuk stressed the double homicide was not domestic. Rather, the pair appear to have kept in minimal contact through the years.

Thomson was deeply troubled. He was known to police and also had mental health issues.

At the time of the double homicide, Thomson believed Nicholl owed him money. Oleniuk wouldn't specify how much, only in the thousands.

He believed she owed him some money, but we can't confirm that if she actually did," he said.

There is no evidence he was harassing Nicholl or demanding money before the shootings.

Whether the debt was real or imaginary, homicide investigators are certain he showed up at the home that morning with his mind set on taking action.

After the shooting, police believe Thomson drove around for a while. The bodies of Nicholl and Lowe weren't found until that evening when police responded to a well-being check.

Parked outside was Lowe's pickup truck with four slashed tires.

Meanwhile, Thomson left Hamilton sometime overnight Saturday, and by early Sunday, he had checked into the Days Inn on Fairview Drive in Brantford.

He had gathered his property, there was every indication he was fleeing," Oleniuk said.

Thomson tried to get a friend to help him destroy evidence, Oleniuk said. Instead, the friend went to police, which is why tactical officers were outside the Brantford motel late that Sunday night.

Police evacuated the motel of other guests. Around 11:15 p.m., officers tried to speak with Thomson through a megaphone, the SIU said in the director's report released Friday. In the report, they do not name Thomson.

Police repeatedly called for Thomson to come out of his room and surrender, the SIU said. At 11:16 p.m., a single gunshot rang out.

When police went into Thomson's motel room, the 33-year-old was lying on one of two beds in the room, a Glock 22 gun under his left hand and a .40 calibre cartridge case resting on his chest.

He had a gunshot wound under his chin. The bullet was found in the wall 11.5 centimetres above the headboard, with parts of it found on the floor of the next room.

Inside the room, police also found cash, a green duffel bag and a backpack with a large quantity of drugs.

Clint Twolan, president of the Hamilton Police Association, said he was pleased the turnaround time for the SIU investigation was relatively quick.

They did everything they should have," he said of the officer's actions that night, but added it's just too bad" how it ended.

Lowe, who went by Donnie" or Don," left behind four children and four grandchildren. He was a longtime Chapman's ice cream truck driver.

His son Taylor Lowe told The Spectator his dad was a loving and kind person" who would do anything for anybody."

He said his dad seemed happy with Nicholl - the couple had been dating a year. In her obituary, Nicholls was remembered as a loved mother, daughter, dear sister and aunt.

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com