Townhouse complex sprayed with bullets
Police don’t know if shooting at 44 Martha St. is tied to assault of teen
“I screamed and yelled and told them to get into the house ... it was a little bit frantic so I had to actually shove them in the house.” STACEY WORTH Resident at the complex
An east Hamilton townhouse complex was sprayed with gunfire overnight Thursday, causing bullets to strike street signs and the side of a unit, including one that flew into a bedroom.
No one was injured.
As of Thursday evening, police did not know how many people were involved and had received varying accounts from witnesses.
The bedroom where the bullet hit is usually occupied by two men in their 20s, but it’s unclear if they were there at the time, as they have not co-operated with investigators, Const. Jerome Stewart said.
“There were a number of shell casings found when witnesses alerted us to gunshots, (however) we have no witnesses to the actual shooting ... no intended victims, we have no suspects at this time,” said Det. Greg Mills, outside the Hamilton police east-end station. “We are putting everything we can into figuring out who did this, why and if anyone was intended to be shot at.”
Police were called just before 1 a.m. Thursday to the complex at 44 Martha St.
When police arrived at the building, in the McQuesten neighbourhood near Parkdale Avenue North and Barton Street East, they found evidence of multiple shots fired near the parking lot.
Police believe, based on the location of multiple shell casings found, that the shots were fired from a single location near the intersection of Martha and Grimsby Avenue, Mills said. The bullets flew in a southwesterly direction toward the unit that was hit.
Stacey Worth, who lives in the complex in a direction away from where the bullets flew, said she was sitting on her front porch with a friend, while her kids were at a neighbouring unit, when she heard a dozen gunshots.
“I screamed and yelled and told them to get into the house ... it was a little bit frantic so I had to actually shove them in the house,” she said.
Worth said she’s concerned the shooting may have been intended a message to her family. Her 14-year-old son was assaulted at Gage Park on Saturday and a video of the incident was shared widely on social media.
However, police say they do not know if the two incidents are related.
Mills said he understood her concerns, but noted there is no evidence at this time the incidents are linked.
He pointed to the fact that the bullets’ trajectory was away from the family’s home. However, police also haven’t ruled out a connection.
That assault investigation is being handled by a different set of detectives, but Mills said they are briefing each other.
In the assault case, the video shows a group of boys surrounding the 14-year-old and repeatedly assaulting him. He suffered minor injuries.
Worth said she and her two sons were followed across the street after the assault, and that the other boys were flashing “gang signs” and one pulled out a gun. She claims the dispute began because of Snapchat conversation.
The overnight shooting came shortly after she posted on Facebook that police would not be laying charges in the assault because her son is not a willing victim. In an assault level one, police need a willing victim to lay charges.
Madeleine O’Neil lives next door to the house that was hit. She said she was sitting out on her front porch and talking with her daughter on the phone when she heard the “bang, bang, bang, bang” of at least four or five gunshots.
Nearby, Ibrahim Dzemilhi said his family was sleeping when he awoke to the sound of gunshots. He looked out his back window and saw a “tall man” running away toward Martha Street.
“So many times this happened ... This is not the first time,” Dzemilhi said.
Some neighbours complained of rampant drug dealing in the complex, while others said there are many families with children, fearing for their safety.
Worth said she was worried about the lack of continuous police presence. The community is gathering for a meeting with CityHousing Hamilton to talk about safety.
“I really don’t want to leave my community, my friends behind,” she said, adding that she’s been there four years and neighbours support each other.
CityHousing Hamilton staff went doorto-door notifying residents they were available at St. Helen’s Community Centre Thursday to provide support, along with contact information for people to call, said CEO Tom Hunter.
The complex appears to have at least two surveillance cameras, which police are accessing.
“As this is time, we are co-operating with the police as their investigation continues,” Hunter said.
This is the 17th shooting in Hamilton this year, including one homicide. There were 24 shootings at this point last year, with 41 in all of 2017, including four homicides.
Hamilton police say they recognize the impact shootings have in the community and are looking for people with information to call 905-546-2963 and ask for the on-duty detectives’ office. To remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.