Hamilton’s first homicide victim of year was mistakenly targeted
Police believe trio who entered Harvey Street rooming house had wrong address and wrong guy
A 46-year-old Hamilton man fatally shot inside a central Hamilton rooming house a week ago was mistakenly targeted by a trio who went to the wrong address and got the wrong guy, police believe.
David Stevens died after being shot inside his room at 21 Harvey St. — a seven-unit rooming house near Sanford Avenue North and Cannon Street East in the Gibson neighbourhood — around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 29.
The shooting happened less than a minute after three men entered the house and found Stevens alone in his room, said Det. Sgt. Peter Thom of the major crime unit. Multiple shots were fired from a single gun that has not been recovered.
Thom would not say who the real target was or where he lived, but noted that he did know the victim.
Police have warned the true target about the threat to his life but the man declined police protection, Thom said.
Police have a legal “duty to warn” when someone’s life is in danger.
“The fact that they got the wrong person makes it even more senseless,” he said.
Detectives have an “investigative theory” as to what happened, but Thom said he wouldn’t comment on the suspected motive or other details of the case while the investigation is ongoing.
But he did say police are operating with the belief that the men went to the home that night with the intention to kill. However, only one gun was used and police would like to hear from the two unarmed men.
“They have a story to tell as to how they got there and what they knew about it,” he said.
Without their side of the story, police will believe the three acted together and they would be equally responsible for the homicide.
“If there is an alternate explanation, we’ll investigate that,” he said.
Police are urging the suspects — particularly the two who didn’t shoot — to seek legal advice and turn themselves in.
Witnesses described three men wearing dark clothing fleeing in a silver or grey, four-door 2015 or older Chevrolet Cruze. It did not have a sunroof.
Police released video of the getaway vehicle, last seen southbound on Birch Avenue, turning east onto Wilson Street, minutes after the fatal shooting, around 11:35 p.m.
Stevens had lived in the rooming house for at least a year and police believe he was “reasonably close” with his housemates.
About nine people were home at the time of the shooting, but Stevens was alone in his room. The other residents have been co-operative with police.
No one answered the door for The Spectator at the home on Friday.
The 46-year-old was unable to work because of a medical condition and received disability benefits.
Stevens grew up in Hamilton, an only child. His mom now lives out of town and he does not have any family here.
Thom said he spoke with Stevens’s mom Thursday night and she’s still processing the news that her only child was mistakenly killed. She’s not ready to speak publicly.
The shooting marks the first homicide in Hamilton of 2020. It’s one of five shootings in the city in the first month of the year.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Rich Wouters at 905-546-4921. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.