An early morning shelter-in-place in south east Picton over the Victoria Day weekend in 2024 was not the result of a rogue gunman roving the neighbourhood.

It was due to a self-inflicted shotgun wound.

Joshua Cronkwright, 30 at the time, pleaded guilty to mischief and weapons offences in Picton’s Ontario Court of Justice last month. He admitted he lied to Prince Edward OPP when they responded to a weapons call in progress at a Union Street address in the early morning of May 20, 2024.

In an agreed statement of facts between the Crown and Mr. Cronkwright’s legal Counsel, the court heard the Picton resident was showing his sawed-off shotgun to an acquaintance on a video call. He was demonstrating how easy it would be to conceal the loaded weapon in the leg of his pants.

That was when Mr. Cronkwright accidentally discharged one of the barrels, firing upwards of 200 pellets into his right thigh and knee.

Police found Mr. Cronkwright prone on the kitchen floor in blood-soaked pants.

But Mr. Cronkwright told police he initially heard musket fire outside his house. 

“As a result of this information, several police resources, including the OPP’s Tactical & Rescue Unit and the Emergency Response Team were dispatched to 106 Union Street,” Crown Attorney Pardeep Bhachu told Justice Geoff Griffin. “Police set up a containment of the area and an extensive search was conducted.”

Police searched for suspects and evidence that would assist in what was a working attempted murder investigation. The OPP’s East Region social media feed instructed residents to remain in their homes and lock their doors. Meanwhile, Mr. Cronkwright was taken to hospital.

Justice Griffin wondered if there were expressions of fear and panic on social media as tales of a potential rogue gunman spread.

“People would have been alarmed at what they were reading, wondering ‘What has it come to?’ and ‘This is the type of thing that happens in big cities’. Some might even still have fear to this day that something like this could happen in their community,” said the Justice.

Meawhile, the OPP continued their investigation — but Mr. Cronkwright wouldn’t allow the police access to his property.

The Criminal Investigations Unit obtained a search warrant later in the day on May 20. It found a double barrel sawed off shotgun hidden behind a refrigerator in the kitchen. The shotgun had one spent shell in one of the chambers and a live shell in the other. The Forensic Identification Unit found DNA evidence  confirming a shooting in the kitchen.

Two days following the search, a witness to the shooting confirmed Mr. Cronkwright shot himself. Mr. Cronkwright yelled at the witness to hide the evidence. The witness then dialled 911.

Mr. Cronkwright was charged with two weapons offences and mischief for the “blatant lie” he told police.

Ms. Bhachu said the Crown would seek a substantive custodial sentence of two years less a day.

Mr. Cronkwright, who appeared at the hearing on video, was remorseful. “I apologize for everything that happened. I was in shock when I stated what I stated.”

Sentencing takes place April 30th.