Inquest into police shooting of Beau Baker in Kitchener rescheduled for March

An inquest into the 2015 police shooting death of Beau Baker in Kitchener is now set to take place next month.

Baker, 20, was shot seven times by an officer with the Waterloo Regional Police Service on April 2, 2015. He died in hospital.

An inquest into Baker's death was called in August 2016 but didn't proceed due to a number of delays.

Then another inquest was set for February 2019, but was postponed that same month, and no reason was given.

The coroner's office saysDr. David Eden will be the presiding officer and Julian Roy will be inquest counsel when the inquest begins on March 20.

It will be held online and isexpected to take two weeks. The inquest is expected to hear from approximately 16 witnesses.

"The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Baker's death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths from occurring in similar circumstances," a press release from Dr. Karen Schiff, regional supervising coroner for west region, Hamilton office, said.

Shooting death

Police have said the officer shot Baker out of concern for public safety.

Ontario's Special Investigation Unit(SIU), which investigates police shootings,said Baker had made a number of threats over the phone earlier in the evening and was holding a knife while standing outside a townhouse at 77 Brybeck Cres. in Kitchener when confronted by police.

TheSIU found the officer was legally justified in his actions.