News Release

News Release

SIU Reopens Investigation into Brantford Fatal Shooting

Case Number: 10-OFD-178   

Mississauga (14 January, 2015) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reopened an investigation involving the Brantford Police Service (BPS). The decision to reopen the 2010 case comes as a result of materially new information coming to light.

The initial SIU investigation determined that on August 25, 2010, BPS officers were dispatched to Sympatica Crescent regarding a domestic dispute. When subject officer Constable Adam Hill arrived, he saw 18-year-old Evan Jones on the front porch holding two large knives. Cst Hill drew his firearm and told Mr. Jones on multiple occasions to drop the knives. Mr. Jones held the blades to his throat and demanded that the police kill him. He went back into his house. Cst Hill learned that Mr. Jones’ sister and two-year-old niece were in the residence. The officer entered the residence followed by another officer. In the meantime, another witness officer entered the residence from a rear door. Cst Hill saw Mr. Jones inside still holding the two knives and refusing to comply with demands to drop them. Mr. Jones began advancing on two of the officers with the knives at his throat. Cst Hill deployed his pepper spray but this had no effect on Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones raised the knives and threw one of them at the two officers. He then turned with a meat cleaver over his head in the direction where Cst Hill reasonably thought another officer was situated. At that point, Cst Hill discharged multiple rounds at Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones was struck four times and died as a result of gunshot wounds.

Based on the information available at the time, the SIU determined no criminal liability could attach to the subject officer’s actions.

A link to the news release issued at the conclusion of the investigation can be found here:
http://www.siu.on.ca/en/news_template.php?nrid=807

While the investigation is ongoing, no further information will be disclosed.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

• consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
• depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
• publicly report the results of its investigations