Today the coroner’s inquest into the death of Douglas Minty heard testimony from civilian witnesses who were there the night the 59-year-old was shot five times and killed by a police officer.
Douglas Minty was developmentally delayed and lived at home with his mother in Elmvale. Sometime on the evening of June 22, 2009, Douglas got into a confrontation with a door-to-door salesman. The salesman called 911. Sometime after that a police officer arrived at the home. Then Minty came out of his house and moved towards the police officer. Minty was shot five times. He later died.
One neighbour testified she saw some of what happened from her window.
She said she saw Douglas move towards the officer and at one point there was no more than four feet between them. She said the gun shots were consecutive and she almost couldn't believe they were real.
The neighbour also testified from the time the police cruiser pulled up to the time Douglas was shot only about five minutes had passed.
Another witness, who was out for a walk when the incident occurred, testified that he heard the officer yell something.
And another witness related how she heard Douglas's mother scream “My son, my son, why did you shoot my son?”
Douglas Minty's family has been at the inquest every day, listening to the testimony. The inquest is set to continue this week and next.
