Man, 39, shot in the head, dumped on street in city’s first homicide of the year
Investigators working to determine where the shooting occurred
The suspect vehicle is described as a darkcoloured, four-door sedan, believed to be a BMW, with ‘somewhat unique’ silver rims on the tires, according to police
A 39-year-old man is dead after being shot in the head and later dumped out of a vehicle in central Hamilton Sunday evening.
His death marks the city’s first homicide of 2022.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk of the homicide unit said just before 6 p.m. on Sunday, emergency services were called to the area of Tisdale Street South and Erie Avenue for a report of a man who had “been dumped on the roadway in medical distress.”
Bereziuk said when officers arrived on scene, they provided medical aid, but soon realized the man was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
The 39-year-old was rushed to hospital by paramedics, but he was pronounced dead a short time later. The investigation was quickly taken over by the homicide unit.
Bereziuk said the identity of the deceased has been confirmed but is not yet being released at the request of next of kin, who are still alerting family members.
“Obviously it’s upsetting for them,” said Bereziuk, who confirmed the man was from Hamilton and was previously known to police. He said the man was found without identification or a cellphone.
Bereziuk said the suspect vehicle was last seen travelling north on Tisdale Street South toward Main Street East, where it turned and headed east.
It’s described as a dark-coloured, four-door sedan, believed to be a BMW, with “somewhat unique” silver rims on the tires, according to police.
Bereziuk said investigators are still working to determine where the shooting occurred and what direction the vehicle initially came
from, noting that police “don’t have a scene at this point.” Police have not located the murder weapon.
Investigators do believe the shooting, which Bereziuk described as targeted, happened just before the man was dumped onto the roadway, but they are unsure of why he was left there and why he was targeted.
“This is an isolated murder,” said Bereziuk. “It’s a terrible incident and certainly not one we want to start the year with at all.”
Bereziuk said there have been reports that a car similar to the suspect vehicle had been “possibly parked” in the area just before the man was dumped, but it has not been confirmed.
Police are also aware of a report of gunshots heard in the area on Saturday, but they too have not been confirmed, he added. Photos taken at the scene Sunday night showed a heavy police presence with police tape blocking the area.
There were no police cars or markers at the scene Monday morning, but pieces of discarded yellow crime scene tape could be seen scattered around the immediate neighbourhood.
A nearby resident told The Spectator she heard what sounded like a “fender bender” in the parking lot of an apartment building on Erie Avenue just minutes before police descended onto the street. The resident asked for her name not be used due to personal safety concerns.
Bereziuk said investigators would be in the neighbourhood Monday canvassing for witnesses and video footage of the incident.
Area residents are asked to check their camera footage from between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday for any signs of the suspect vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Michael Ebert at 905-546-4167.
To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 or submit tips online at crimestoppershamilton.com. WITH FILES FROM JENNIFER MOORE
FALLON HEWITT IS A REPORTER AT THE SPECTATOR. FHEWITT@THESPEC.COM