Hamilton police are searching for suspects after a man was shot dead in an alley in the lower city on Wednesday night.
Emergency services were called to the area of Cannon Street East and Gibson Avenue for reports of shots fired at around 10:30 p.m.
Police said officers found a 38-year-old suffering from gunshot wounds.
Investigators said he was rushed to hospital in critical condition where he later died.
It’s the seventh homicide in Hamilton this year, coming just days after a “violent” stabbing in the city’s downtown that claimed two lives.
Det. Sgt. Steve Berezuik of the major crimes unit said it’s too early to determine exactly how many suspects are involved, but said police are canvassing the area for video surveillance that could help identify those responsible for the shooting.
“If they see anything on there, people running or a person running, or anything that just looks out of place, give us a call so we could have a look at it. We’d be grateful for that.”
He said witnesses have told investigators they heard yelling and “some type of a dispute” at one of the residences backing onto the alley.
While it appears that it was a targeted incident, Berezuik said it’s too early in the investigation to speculate on the motive behind the shooting.
“I don’t have any information that would suggest this was random. I do believe that this victim, or perhaps his address was a targeted address but why it was, I don’t know. It’s too early, we have no motive at this point.”
Anyone in the area who may have surveillance video or additional information is asked to contact Det. David Brewster at 905-546-4067 or anonymously submit a tip through Crimestoppers online or by calling 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).