Accused in Botched Southern Ontario Home Invasion Faces 19 Charges After Allegedly Shooting Himself

A Hamilton, Ont., man is facing 19 charges after city police alleged he accidentally shot himself during a failed home invasion.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting near the city centre at approximately 9:30 p.m. on May 2 and found a man with “serious” gunshot injuries, the Hamilton Police Service said in a press release the following day.

A blood trail at the site of the home invasion led investigators to a discarded firearm that is believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, police said.

“Based on the evidence at hand, detectives… were able to determine that the individual who suffered the gunshot wound was the same individual alleged to be responsible for the shooting,” police said in the May 3 press release. “The accused is believed to have shot himself during an attempted home invasion.”

Police say the man was treated at a local medical centre and remains in custody.

Eric Haines, 38, from Hamilton faces charges of breaking and entering, criminal harassment, four counts of failure to comply with probation orders, and 13 firearm-related offences in connection with the incident.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Shooting Response Team or Crime Stoppers.

Murder Investigation

The home invasion investigation comes as police continue to seek information about a separate April 30 shooting that claimed the life of a 19-year-old man.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting inside a downtown apartment building at approximately 6:30 p.m. and found a man, now identified as Talon Williams-Parkin, suffering from gunshot wounds, police said in a May 1 press release. He was transported to hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Investigators suspect an exchange of gunfire took place inside a unit within the building. The victim was hit during the shootout and evidence indicates that a suspect may have sustained injuries as well.

“Shortly afterward, police received a report of an injured person in the area,” police said. “At this time, it has not been confirmed whether that call is connected to this incident.”

Police have identified two suspects in connection with this incident and are on the lookout for two black males. One suspect is described as short with long dreads and a “fat” face while the other is tall and thin, also with dreadlocks, and was seen wearing a blue face mask.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police.