Inquest jury rules Quinn MacDougall death a homicide

An inquest jury has ruled the police shooting death of Quinn MacDougall a homicide.

The five-person jury, which began deliberations Friday afternoon, delivered 10 recommendations for government and police agencies to consider, including improving de-escalation tactics, use of force training and mental health response services.

MacDougall, 19, was shot and killed by two police officers outside a Mountain townhouse complex on April 3, 2018, about 10 minutes after he called police to report a man with a firearm near his Caledon Avenue residence.

A 10-day inquest into his death began Feb. 28.

The inquest heard Thursday from two Hamilton police officers who fired several rounds at MacDougall.

Const. Ken Breitenbach testified there was no other option" but to shoot MacDougall when the young man charged at another officer and held a knife over his head.

I took someone's life, and I have to live with that," Breitenbach told the inquest, his voice breaking with emotion. I wish there had been a different outcome ... I became a police officer to help people."

Findings from a post-mortem showed MacDougall died in hospital from a gunshot wound to the torso.

But, since the inquest is not a criminal finding, no blame is attached to the people who caused MacDougall's death.

Among the jury's recommendations Friday night to the Ministry of the Solicitor General was to research the availability and efficacy of less-lethal use of force options for officers. They also implored the Ontario Police College to provide recruits with additional de-escalation training.

Previous evidence heard at the inquest revealed police were unsuccessful when they tried to deploy Tasers to calm MacDougall down. One officer testified MacDougall didn't heed to demands to drop his knife or stop moving.

At no point did he stop moving and communicate," Const. Brittany Gingrich testified Wednesday.

MacDougall placed several 911 calls on April - including some from different numbers - in which he stressed a man was in his neighbourhood and out to get him.

In one audio exchange between police and dispatchers, the first responding patrol officer could be heard saying into his radio that the incident might be an MHA (Mental Health Act)."

But police's Mobile Crisis Rapid Respond Team (MCRRT) - which pairs officers with mental health professionals on calls - was never called to the scene.

Michelle Muracco, a Hamilton police civilian member who trains call takers and dispatchers, testified that was because there was no indication MacDougall suffered mental health issues.

Police currently only have two MCRRT units available on any given day, the inquest heard. They were both on different calls the day MacDougall died.

The jury recommended all Ontario police services should have a joint response team with mental health workers, and that Hamilton's MCRRT should add more units and operate 24-hours a day.

David Eden, who presided over the inquest, said in a closing address Friday that MacDougall was a beloved family member and friend who died tragically.

This inquest has been an opportunity for a public examination of the facts surrounding his death and to learn from his death to prevent similar deaths," he said. The jury, as representatives of the community, has translated that evidence into findings of fact and has written carefully considered recommendations that we can all hope will be implemented."