Police trying to identify suspects in Monday’s shooting death
Hamilton police homicide detectives are combing through surveillance video from a dozen east Hamilton properties in hopes of capturing two suspects wanted in the targeted shooting death of a 37-year-old woman in the doorway of her apartment earlier this week.
Two men, only described as wearing dark clothing, one taller than the other, were seen running from the two-storey building on the corner of Lottridge Street and Barton Street East around 3:45 a.m. Monday.
The autopsy showed Nicole Dragisic died from multiple gunshot wounds, said Det. Sgt. Peter Thom. He wouldn’t specify how many or where on her body.
A third person seen in the area at the time of the homicide has since been ruled out as a suspect, he said.
Police still don’t know the identity of the two wanted men, including whether they knew Dragisic.
The 37-year-old was not home alone at the time of the shooting. Her boyfriend, with whom she had moved into the ground-floor unit earlier this month, and another person were there.
Thom described Dragisic, who was also known to spell her last name Dragasic, as “very well known to police.”
However, it’s not yet clear if drugs or other criminal activity, are connected to the “targeted” shooting.
“We don’t know 100 per cent,” Thom said. “We don’t know the motive.”
Family has set up a gofundme account to raise money for funeral expenses.
The fundraiser organizer is listed as Joanne McIntosh, Dragisic’s sister-in-law.
“We lost our daughter, sister, niece and a loving mother to five beautiful creations,” McIntosh wrote.
“She was ours ... and didn’t deserve to be killed by gunfire,” she later added.
As of Friday afternoon the account had raised $1,115, with a goal of $8,000.
Dragisic is affectionately referred to as “Colie” in the fundraising campaign and in her obituary. According to her obituary, she leaves behind five children, five siblings and their partners and other extended family.
A visitation is scheduled to take place at L.G. Wallace Funeral Home on Ottawa Street North Sunday afternoon from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by a funeral service at Laidlaw Memorial Church at 4 p.m.
Thom said he couldn’t comment on whether Dragisic was expecting someone at her door or whether they forced their way in early Monday.
“It was a very brief interaction,” he said.
Neighbours described hearing banging on the door, followed very closely by three gunshots.
Police say only one weapon, believe to be a handgun, was used but have not recovered it.
A number of witnesses and tipsters have come forward since the homicide early Monday.
Anyone with information is asked to call homicide Det. Richard Wouters at 905-546-4921. To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).