Gunfight that left one dead, injured two cops in Burlington subject of inquest

An inquest has been called into the 2018 death of a Burlington man killed in a gunfight that also injured two police officers.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Ahmadu Ahmed will be investigated before a jury that is expected to make recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents.

The mandatory inquest was called by Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner for Central Region, Central West Office.

According to an initial investigation conducted by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the agency that looks into police-involved shootings, on Sept. 22 of 2018, police were called to locate a man that left a vehicle accident scene and fled to a Burlington gas station at Appleby Line and Harvester Rd.

The man was found in the bathroom of the gas station and was told by officers to come out. When he did there was an exchange of gunfire between the man and five police officers, four from Halton Regional Police and one from the OPP.

The SIU said the man was hit by bullets and killed a the scene. Two of the Halton officers were stuck during the gunfire and needed medical treatment.

After a nine-month investigation, the SIU subsequently cleared officers of any wrongdoing in the case.

Details regarding the inquest date and location are not yet provided