SIU investigating whether shotgun was pointed or fired before fatal Hamilton police shooting

Around 3:30 p.m. July 7, Hamilton police received a 911 call about a man allegedly holding a shotgun to a woman's head.

This is the domestic call that culminated in a fatal police shooting in a convenience store parking lot just half an hour later, The Hamilton Spectator has confirmed.

Jason Peterson, a 42-year-old father of two, died in hospital a day after being shot. His death remains under investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.

Hamilton police have said that officers had been called to a domestic that afternoon involving an armed suspect. They have declined to comment further, citing the ongoing SIU investigation.

The Hamilton Spectator has confirmed details of the initial 911 call with multiple sources not authorized to speak on the record. It's unclear if police are still investigating the domestic incident.

What is known is that police were searching for the armed suspect when officers responded to the parking lot of Corner's Variety at Cannon Street East and Gage Avenue North around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

What happened next is captured, in part, on surveillance video inside and outside the variety store.

Peterson, wearing a white shirt, shorts and grey hat, and two other men were in a gold sedan that was parked outside the store. All three men went into the store, buying candy, deodorant and sports drinks.

An unmarked police vehicle was already parked nearby and a second unmarked vehicle parked next to the gold sedan while they were in the store. Seconds after Peterson returned to the car, a marked police cruiser blocked him in and four officers can be seen approaching with guns drawn.

Within seconds, shots are fired.

The shooting itself is not captured on the video obtained by The Hamilton Spectator.

The SIU has confirmed they have seized two police service-issued guns and a shotgun.

Was the shotgun drawn or fired? That's part of the SIU investigation, said spokesperson Monica Hudon.

Hamilton Police Association president Clint Twolan said the association supports all of the officers involved."

I am confident our officers used the appropriate use of force option given the circumstances."

Police are legally allowed to use lethal force in instances where they believe their life or the life of someone else is in danger.

There have been seven other fatal police shootings in Hamilton since 2007, and in each of those cases, Hamilton police were cleared by the SIU because the individuals were armed (most with a knife).

Meanwhile, members of Peterson's family have told The Hamilton Spectator that they believe he was innocent and question why police were so quick to fire.

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