Police probe adequacy of emergency response

Good Samaritan died after shooting

A criminal investigation has been launched into the emergency medical care provided to a Good Samaritan who police have said was killed after trying to intervene in an altercation this month in Hamilton, Ont.

Yosif Al-Hasnawi — described by police as a brave young man who was trying to do the right thing — was shot and killed on Dec. 2 after he tried to help an older man who was being accosted by two other men.

The men have since been charged in connection with the death. Dale Burningsky King, 19, is charged with second-degree murder and a 20-year-old is charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Witnesses to the interaction criticized Hamilton paramedics and police at the scene for not taking Al-Hasnawi seriously when he said he was in pain.

On Wednesday, witness Tom Raczynski said he was appalled by how long it took paramedics to treat Al-Hasnawi.

“That poor kid lay there for an hour and a half,” he said.

“This boy could have been alive, in my eyes, if they would have did it right away.”

Niagara Regional police will conduct the investigation, said Hamilton police Const. Jerome Stewart.

“The Hamilton Police Service believe a criminal investigation is warranted based on the review of the preliminary evidence,” Stewart said in a statement.