Police and the province’s Special Investigations Unit are probing the circumstances surrounding the death of two men inside a home in Burlington early Tuesday morning.
SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette said multiple 911 calls were placed at around 12:30 a.m. from a residence on Cornerstone Drive, located in the area of Appleby Line and Dundas Street.
“Preliminary information indicates that those 911 calls were placed but there wasn’t anybody on the other line. I think there were some voices that were heard,” Denette told reporters at the scene on Tuesday.
“I’m not sure that they (police) knew exactly what they were getting into when they arrived.”
She said reports suggest that when officers first arrived at the home for an unknown disturbance call, a 28-year-old man fled upstairs.
“There was a struggle between the male upstairs with police and there would have been a brief interaction and a conducted energy weapon (was deployed),” Denette said.
At some point after officers arrived on scene, she said it appears the man sustained a very serious, self-inflicted knife wound.
Paramedics were called and despite life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene, she added.
Parallel criminal investigation
The SIU confirmed that a second man was later found dead inside the home. Denette could not provide an exact age but said she believes the man was in his 50s.
She did not disclose a cause of death but noted that a post-mortem examination will be conducted this week.
According to the SIU, a woman, also believed to be in her 50s, was wounded in the incident but suffered only minor injuries. She has since been released from hospital.
Denette said the three people inside the home were known to one another but would not provide any details about the nature of their relationship.
Neighbours tell CTV News Toronto that the two deceased are Mauro Gennaccaro and his son Luciano Gennaccaro.
“The focus of the SIU investigation is the death of the 28-year-old man. Halton police is conducting a parallel criminal investigation into the fatality of the other individual and also the injuries that were inflicted upon the female,” Denette said.
The SIU, an arms-length civilian agency, is called in to investigate any time an officer is involved in an incident that results in death, serious injuries, allegations sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. Denette said five witness officials and two subject officials have been designated.
Police have released few details about the incident but in a post on social media, investigators said they do not believe there is any threat to public safety.
On Tuesday, Halton police cruisers and an SIU vehicle could be seen parked outside the front of the home, which was cordoned off with police tape.
One neighbour told CP24 that loud fights were common at the residence where the incident occurred.
“We went to bed probably around 11:30 and around 12:30 we heard yelling and screaming but didn’t get up to check it out just because, I mean, that’s a regular occurrence since 2016, since I’ve been living here,” he said.
