Two people ‘targeted’ in Mountain shooting
Second incident this year involving gunfire in Limeridge area
Two people targeted with gunfire as they sat in an SUV at a Hamilton Mountain parking lot are not co-operating with police, as detectives work to find multiple people involved in the daylight shooting.
Despite the lack of co-operation, investigators are examining the shot-up vehicle and have seized surveillance video from the plaza, said Const. Jerome Stewart.
Hamilton police were called to the shooting in the parking lot at 310 Limeridge Rd. W., between Garth and West 5th streets, around 6 p.m. Sunday.
A male was seen firing at the parked SUV before fleeing. Two vehicles appeared to be involved — one was dark, the other silver.
The male is described as black, tall with a slim build, wearing a black shirt with a white design on the back.
Stewart couldn’t say whether the occupants of the SUV were men or women, whether they stayed or fled, or anything about their behaviour. The only fact he could say with certainty was that no one was injured.
“We do not have co-operation from the people in the vehicle,” Stewart said.
At the scene police arrested two people, but they were later released without charge and police do not believe they were involved.
Stewart said detectives have also spoken with witnesses, and are interested in hearing from anyone with information or video. This is the second time this year there has been a shooting in the area.
On Jan. 23 around 8:30 p.m., a 24-year-old man was shot multiple times in an exchange of gunfire on Limeridge near the parking lot. His injuries were not life-threatening.
In both incidents, like most shootings in Hamilton, police say people were “targeted” and that there is no threat to public safety.
The plaza includes a Big Bear Food Mart, cross fit gym, and a dance studio surrounded by a large parking lot and residential neighbourhood.
On Sunday night, only the Big Bear and a connected pizza and sub restaurant were open. Owner Shabab Bashea said he wasn’t there but got a panicked call from his employee who was alone in the store with customers when they heard gunshots.
Bashea told him to call police. The employee sent him a photo of a small, silver SUV with the glass broken in the driver-side window and at least seven bullet holes in the door.
It was “pretty frightening” that night, he said, but by daylight the next day things felt back to normal.
He took over the business in June, after the first shooting, and said he’s had no issues with the community or customers. It’s “bad luck” the shootings happened there, he added.
Police seized surveillance video from the store.
Sunday’s gunfire marks the 20th shooting in Hamilton this year. There were 41 shootings in all of 2017, up from 22 in 2016, 14 in 2015 and seven in 2014.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Mountain criminal investigations branch detective sergeant at 905-546-3851, or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477.
We do not have co-operation from the people in the vehicle.
CONST. JEROME STEWART
Hamilton police