Girl, 17, shot to death inside Hamilton, Ontario residence

Emergency crews responded to a home close to Barton Street East at about 4 am after a shooting was reported.

“Upon arrival, a female youth was found inside the residence suffering injuries from a gunshot,” Det.-Sgt. Steve Bereziuk said when speaking to reporters at the home.

“Police were first on scene and provided immediate medical care, life-saving efforts in an attempt to save her life. Paramedics were not far behind.”

Bereziuk said paramedics transported the girl to Hamilton General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. She was later pronounced dead at about 9:30 am.

Police say there could have been as many as five people in the house when the shooting took place.

“What transpired in the house and how she came to be shot, we don’t know,” Bereziuk said. “That is something we are actively pursuing at the moment to try to figure out what the motive, if there is a motive, was.”

Police have not released the victim’s identity as requested by her family, though it was mentioned that she attended the city’s Catholic school board.

“At this point, I can tell you that the family is extremely distraught, they’re hysterical, you can imagine getting this information. They have asked that I do not release the name of their daughter. I will be following their wishes,” Bereziuk said.

The victim was living with her mother in another part of the city, said the detective.

“As far as the relationship to who was in the house (where the shooting took place), I will not be getting into that at this point in time,” he said. “But, she did know one of the occupants of the residence.”

Investigators are searching for two males in connection with the incident.

They are believed to have fled the scene through the back of the home and proceeded to head in an unknown direction through an alleyway.

“Right now we are seeking two white males in their early 20s,” he said. “There is no clothing description. One male is described as having shorter brown hair or possibly a buzz cut. The other male has a little longer brown hair.”

“We have spoken to witnesses who have been cooperative. We are seeking to speak to anybody else who may have been in the area at the time in an effort to assist us.”

Police have not yet recovered a weapon and are applying for search authority so they can enter the home.

People with additional information about the incident are asked to call police at 905-546-2288 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).