Hamilton police say the man who was shot and killed in a central Hamilton neighbourhood in late January may not have been the intended target and that the alleged perpetrators likely had the “wrong address.”
Detectives from the major crime unit now believe David Stevens was not the intended mark after a shooter took his life at a home on Harvey Street in the Sanford Avenue and Cannon Street area on Jan. 29.
Stevens was found dead by police and paramedics when they arrived around 11:30 p.m. to a home at 21 Harvey St.
The 46-year-old appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound, according to police.
Detectives have not explained why they believe Stevens was not the intended target of the three suspects, saying only that they came to the conclusion based on witness statements, surveillance footage from the area, forensic examinations of the scene and other undisclosed evidence.
Investigators also believe they have identified a getaway car that was last seen travelling southbound on Birch Avenue and turning eastbound onto Wilson Street just after 11:35 p.m. on the night of Stevens’ death.
Police say the vehicle is a 2015 or older-model four-door Chevrolet Cruze, silver or grey, with no sunroof.
Investigators have not recovered a weapon but believe only one firearm was used during the incident.
Following the shooting, Det. Sgt. Peter Thom said Stevens, who is from the Hamilton area, had had a few “interactions” with police in the past but nothing that would suggest he would be targeted in a killing.
He added that the home, which operates as a rooming house with seven bedrooms, had nine people inside at the time.
“Everyone in the house, I will say, has co-operated with police,” said Thom. “Because of the time of night, the setup of the residence, some people witnessed particular aspects of this, and we have had co-operation from all of them.”
Dwayne, a neighbour who asked that his last name not be used, told Global News he heard a bang and went downstairs to look out a front window.
He said he spotted a vehicle, which he identified as a silver compact four-door Chevrolet, as well as a couple of men in their early 20s who ran to the vehicle in an “expedient” manner.
Dwayne said it’s not shocking that this happened in his neighbourhood.
“Things happen around here,” he said. “There was a shooting a couple months back by Tim Hortons on Cannon, and basically, yeah, it’s indicative of this area, I would say.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Det. Rich Wouters of the Hamilton police major crime unit at 905-546-4921 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.
— With files from Global News’ Rick Zamperin and Lisa Polewski
Comments