The decision to forgo an inquest in the death of Beau Baker will be reviewed.
Baker was shot and killed by a Waterloo Regional Police officer in April 2015, while standing outside a townhouse on Brybeck Crescent in Kitchener.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit found that the officer hadn’t committed any criminal wrongdoing when they shot the 20-year-old.
According to the SIU, the officer fired their weapon seven times as Baker was moving toward them, holding a knife.
Initially, a decision was made not to hold an inquest into Baker’s death.
Speaking to CTV Kitchener, Ontario’s chief coroner said that decision would be reviewed.
“We will discuss with Beau Baker’s mother and get her perspective about what the decision was and see if the decision needs to be changed,” said Dr. Dirk Huyer.
“We are open to hearing her perspective and looking at the decision.”
Huyer said he did not have details the decision made by his office or what factors contributed to it.
Baker’s family has filed a $6-million lawsuit against Waterloo Region’s police board, police Chief Bryan Larkin, the officer who shot Baker and another officer who witnessed the events.
The family’s lawyer says Baker was in a “mental health crisis” at the time of the shooting.
With reporting by Nicole Lampa
