Landlord kills engaged couple over 'mould dispute' before being shot dead
A landlord brutally killed a young couple who lived in his building over a housing dispute before being shot dead by police.
The 57-year-old shot tenants Carissa MacDonald, 27, and Aaron Stone, 28, outside their home in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, on Saturday evening, local police said.
Both victims were dead by the time police arrived.
Hamilton Det. Sgt. Steve Berezuik said the two were "fleeing the residence" when they were shot.
“They are truly innocent victims,” he said. “…This is a very tragic incident.”
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The couple rented the basement of a home belonging to 57-year-old Terry Gerald Brekka, who lived upstairs.
Victims Aaron Stone and Carissa MacDonald standing outside their home (Facebook)It is believed the argument stemmed over mould.
After shooting the couple, Brekka then barricaded himself in the building armed with multiple weapons.
Police negotiators tried to talk him into surrendering but failed to coax him after several hours.
Officer Berezuik said: “We spent considerable time last night on the phone in attempts to negotiate a peaceful resolution with the male suspect."
The suspect opened fire on police, shooting at an armoured police vehicle and at officers at the scene.
Hamilton police said officers fired back hitting the suspect and he died on the scene.
A special investigation has been launched which is normal with officer-involved shootings.
According to local reports, the couple had recently become engaged.
Ms MacDonald was an educational assistant and Mr Stone an electrician.
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Bereziuk said that the landlord-tenant dispute didn’t involve “a missed rental payment,” according to a local outlet.
“The early indication on that is it sounds like there was some type of dispute regarding the state of the home,” he said.
“The specifics I don’t think I’ll get into at this point in time.”
The town's mayor, Andrea Horwath, paid tribute to the victims saying: "I was very saddened to hear about this senseless tragedy over the weekend, and my heart goes out to the families of the victims."
Sandra Chaisson, who lives nearby the scene, said the landlord bought the house on Jones Road from her grandparents.
She said Brekka had lived there for more than 20 years having bought the property in 2003 for $115,000.
She said: "He was very quiet. A very quiet man. I didn't see him much, just to wave hello, but I haven't seen him for a long time.
"The tenants were in the basement, but I didn't know them, just to see them at the mailbox kind of thing."
She said she was at home relaxing when she heard six to eight gunshots in quick succession.
"It was rather scary," she said. "It's a shock to all of us."
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