‘Small man in a wheelchair’ is city’s 8th homicide
55-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder; at least one other suspect hunted
MICHEL PILON was only a month into living in his new home — a fresh start in a third-floor unit in a new affordable-living building that includes support staff — when he was killed there.
The 53-year-old Hamilton man, known as Mike, has been identified as the city’s eighth homicide victim of the year after being discovered inside his Parkdale Landing apartment around 1:30 a.m. Friday.
Police arrested 55-year-old George Opassinis at the scene and have charged him with first-degree murder, Staff Sgt. Dave Oleniuk of the major crime unit said during a news conference later in the day.
Opassinis was expected to briefly appear in court late Friday afternoon. Police are looking for at least one other suspect, a man, also believed to have been involved in the murder. That man, like Opassinis, is believed to have known the victim in Hamilton from before Pilon moved to Parkdale Landing.
Oleniuk said an autopsy was still ongoing and he wouldn’t yet comment on the cause of death, how the victim was discovered, or whether any weapons were involved.
There was some sort of dispute involving the victim and allegedly the accused, he said.
Police do not believe there is any threat to the general public.
Pilon had just moved into the 57unit building at Parkdale Avenue and Melvin Avenue. His alleged killers did not live in the building.
Harry Ramlall, who also lives on the third floor, said he knew the victim as Mikey. They had become friends over the last month after moving in, although it was a new friendship and they hadn’t yet had time to get to know each other well.
Ramlall described him as a “small man in a wheelchair.”
He didn’t realize something was wrong until he saw the hallway flooded with police overnight.
Ramlall doesn’t recall hearing any commotion and says his neighbour, like most people in the building, had friends who visited. But nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
The pair would smoke together, with his neighbour often hanging outside in his wheelchair near the three-storey building’s Melvin Avenue doors.
Police remained at the building Friday morning. A mobile command van arrived with ACTION officers to canvass neighbours. The canine and forensic units were also on scene.
Many in the community awoke Friday morning to discover the large police presence. Some said the corner of Parkdale and Melvin is a tough area, but the new affordable living building, whose tenants include many vulnerable people, was seen as a bright spot.
The transformed building is the former site of George and Mary’s Tavern. Despite the tragedy, tenants said they loved their new bachelor or one-bedroom apartments.
Property owner Indwell, a Christian charity pushing for more affordable housing in this city, expressed sadness at the loss and is committed to helping police find out what happened.
Executive director Jeffrey Neven was on site for a few hours Friday morning to support staff and tenants.
“We as a community grieve the loss of this individual,” Neven said.
He added it’s important for members of the community to support one another.
Indwell has shared surveillance video footage with police, but Neven said they don’t know much about what happened.
Tenants have been in the building for only four to six weeks and many are marginalized people, he said.
They have a robust staff that includes social workers, nurses, housing support and peer-support workers on site every day.
On Friday and for the next several days, they will have extra support there.
In total, Indwell has about 500 people in housing and Neven said the goal is always to help them build a relationship with the community and go on to thrive.
Indwell has seen many success stories.
“Unfortunately, this individual will not have that opportunity,” Neven said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Catherine Lockley at 905-546-3825.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.
Many in the community awoke Friday morning to discover the large police presence. Some said the corner of Parkdale and Melvin is tough area, but the new affordable living building, whose tenants include vulnerable people, was seen as a bright spot.