Police say that a number of shootings have taken place in broad daylight in busy areas, which they say is “especially concerning.” Pictured: Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen. Photo Credit: Hamilton Police Service.
An increase in shootings in the City of Hamilton recently has led the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) to issue a press release appealing to the public for information.
The release, which was issued on May 22, 2024, says that there have been 22 shootings in Hamilton since January 2024, an increase over last year.
It also says that this is the highest number of shootings year-to-date since 2019.
In 2023, Hamilton saw only 10 shootings within the same time span.
Since the press release was issued, there have already been at least three additional shootings, bringing the total to 25.
Police say that a number of shootings have also taken place in broad daylight in busy areas, which they say is “especially concerning.”
Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen commented on the increase, saying, “As a community, we cannot accept or tolerate this level of violence. We can’t become complacent in response to these increasingly brazen acts.”
Officers say that the majority of incidents are targeted, but recent shootings have taken place in a busy alleyway with children walking home from school and even near a daycare.
Hamilton Police Superintendent Marty Schulenberg says, “Shootings, whether or not they result in a victim, severely undermine our community’s sense of safety.”
That’s the reason why Hamilton Police recently announced that they would be making their Shooting Response Team (SRT) permanent.
The SRT was operating as a one-year pilot program and was being tested as a way to centralize non-lethal shooting investigations.
Previously, shooting investigations were simply handled by HPS divisional detectives at each of Hamilton’s three police divisions.
To date, the team has carried out 62 investigations and arrested 27 individuals for a total of 255 charges.
They say that of the 27 arrested, 56 per cent already had a weapon/firearm charge.
The press release then goes on to ask Hamiltonians for information on three recent shootings.
The first shooting took place at 30 Congress Crescent in the area of Mount Albion Road and Lawrence Road in the early morning on Friday, May 10.
In that incident multiple rounds were fired into an apartment building and police are looking for a beige SUV.
Second, on Monday, May 13, just before 5PM there was an exchange of gunfire involving several individuals in the area of Cannon Street and Kinrade Avenue, with bullets found in buildings, vehicles, garages, and roadways.
In that shooting, police have issued warrants for 23-year-old Alexander La and 25-year-old Malcolm Davis.
Third, there was a shooting in the area of Sherman Avenue South and Main Street East just before midnight on Friday, May 17.
Although there were no known victims, police say that numerous spent bullet casings were found and they released video footage of three suspects.
Bergen ended with an appeal to Hamiltonians: “Someone knows these individuals who are carrying loaded firearms with no regard for public safety. We urge the community to do the right thing and come forward to assist with these investigations.”
Those with information for police can contact 905-546-4883 or email shootingresponseteam@hamiltonpolice.ca.
To provide information anonymously, residents can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at www.crimestoppershamilton.com.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
