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Date set for inquest into 2020 death of man shot by Hamilton police

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A date has been set for an inquest into the death of Jason Peterson who died in 2020 following an interaction with Hamilton police officers.

The jury will examine the incident that happened on July 7, 2020 when 42-year-old Peterson was in the front passenger seat of a gold Buick with two other people in a parking lot near Cannon Street East and Gage Avenue North.

Hamilton police were attempting to arrest Peterson after receiving a call from the mother of his ex-girlfriend regarding a domestic dispute. Officers followed him and blocked in his vehicle that Ontario’s top police watchdog said was stolen.

The Special Investigations Unit said Peterson fired his shotgun at a police officer, which prompted one officer to return fire from the front and another officer from behind.

WATCH MORE: Family of the man killed by Hamilton police still waiting for answers

The SIU said the officers had little choice but to shoot.

Peterson later died in hospital from a gunshot wound in the back of his head.

The police watchdog cleared the two officers in 2021, saying there were no reasonable grounds to believe they committed a crime.

Ontario’s ministry of the solicitor general announced on June 19 that a coroner’s inquest into his death is mandatory under the Coroners Act.

In a press release Tuesday, the ministry says the inquest is scheduled to begin on Nov. 4 and hear from 15 witnesses over five days.

READ MORE: Inquest ordered into 2020 death of man shot by Hamilton police