A coroner's inquest will be held into the shooting death of a former London man by a Waterloo Regional Police officer.
Ontario Deputy Chief Coroner Dr. Reuven Jhirad announced on Wednesday that an inquest will examine the events surrounding the death of Beau Baker. Recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths may be made depending on the results of the inquest.
Baker was shot dead by police at an apartment in Kitchener on April 2, 2015. The 20-year-old had called 9-1-1 prior to the shooting, threatening to kill himself and others including police, paramedics, and passersby.
According to a report compiled by the Special Investigations Unit, Baker was standing on a landing near the entrance of an apartment building, holding a knife when police arrived. An officer advised Baker he was there to help and told him to drop the knife and get on the ground. The SIU investigation then found Baker failed to comply, and instead moved toward the officer who fired his gun seven times.
The police watchdog found no grounds to charge the officer with any wrongdoing in the shooting.
In April, Baker's family filed a $6-million civil suit against the Waterloo Regional Police Service, Chief Bryan Larkin, and two unknown officers. The suit is making its way through the courts.
A date and location for the inquest has yet to be announced.
Baker attended both Sir George Ross secondary school and Fanshawe College in London.
-With files from Scott Kitching.
