Hamilton police say a man is facing a first-degree murder charge after he broke into his neighbour’s home and shot him dead early Tuesday morning.
Witnesses say several people were in tears as they watched a man being carried away by paramedics from a West Mountain home.
Hamilton police say the suspect killed his 28-year-old neighbour just after 1:00 a.m. in the area of Mohawk Road West and Magnolia Drive.
Det. Sgt. Dave Oleniuk says police responded to a 911 call for shots fired. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a man had been shot inside a residence.
“We responded with paramedics. Paramedics attempted some lifesaving efforts but he was pronounced dead at the scene,” said Oleniuk.
“The shooter had fled and he turned himself in a few minutes later at the mountain (police) station without any further incident.”
Mark Duckett, 26, of Hamilton was arrested and has been charged with first-degree murder. Duckett did make a court appearance Tuesday afternoon and remains in custody.
Oleniuk did not say how many shots were fired but did reveal that there was an earlier call from the victim’s residence around 10:00 p.m. about “a problem with a neighbour.”
“So there was a call from our victim’s residents about the male neighbour who lived next door about his behaviour,” Oleniuk said.
“Police did attend and speak to him and warn him not to continue with that behaviour, and he was made aware of any potential consequences.”
Oleniuk also said police had been made aware of some previous interactions, but this was the first time police were called.
Police say this is the city’s seventh homicide of 2019.
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