After a seven-month long investigation, two Hamilton paramedics who responded to the deadly shooting of Yosif Al-Hasnawi have been identified.
Twenty-nine-year-old Chris Marchant, of Whitby, was seen leaving Niagara Regional Police headquarters after he was charged with not doing enough to save Al-Hasnawi’s life. The second paramedic, 53-year-old Steven Snively, of Hamilton, was arrested and charged on Aug. 1.
Al-Hasnawi was shot on Dec. 2, 2017 after he tried to help a stranger who was being accosted by two men outside his downtown mosque.
Hamilton police confirmed there was a 38-minute delay between the ambulance’s arrival on scene and when the teen was brought to hospital.
Witnesses say paramedics assessed Al-Hasnawi’s wound and kept reassuring bystanders that the teen had only been shot by a pellet gun. The witnesses allege both police and paramedics claimed the teen was faking his injuries and believed he could stand up on his own.
Al-Hasnawi was pronounced dead at 9:58 p.m., 19 minutes after his arrival at St. Joseph’s hospital.
A criminal investigation was launched in January by the Niagara Regional Police Service into how paramedics handled the incident.
The head of an OPSEU local which represents the paramedics confirmed two male paramedics were brought into NRPS headquarters on Wednesday and charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.
“We are confident we will be vindicated and obviously we intend to fight these charges vigorously,” says Mario Posteraro, President of OPSEU local 256.
The paramedics have been on administrative leave with pay for the last seven months. Both paramedics have worked in Hamilton for between eight and 10 years.
“They have been characterized and vilified as cowboys who did not have the interest of the patient at heart, that is not the case. These are career paramedics long serving within our service very competent, certified annually by a medical physician,” said Posteraro.
Niagara Police say they spoke to more than 60 witnesses and they don’t anticipate any additional charges will be laid but police wouldn’t speak to CHCH News on camera, saying the matter is now before the courts.
Chief Russell Crocker with Hamilton Paramedics assures that, “What I would like to assure the public is Hamilton Paramedic Services is committed to providing excellent care to citizen in Hamilton and I am confident in our staff with the care they provide day to day.”
CHCH reached out to the Al-Hasnawi family. His mother welcomed the charges saying she has faith in the justice system and that everyone responsible would be charged and held accountable.
His father and two brothers filed a $10 million civil lawsuit in January against Hamilton paramedics. It also names Hamilton Police, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and the two men charged with second degree murder and accessory after the fact.
The two paramedics are due to appear in court September 11. They could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The Ministry of Health investigation continues and says they could also face charges under the ambulance act.
