Latest news with #MackaleLavoie
Toronto Sun
7 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Hamilton Police continue to push for suspect's surrender in fatal shooting of innocent bystander
Hamilton Police say Mackale Lavoie, 17, is wanted for second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. Cops say they obtained an order permitting the publication of Lavoie's identity, who remains at large and whose identity would usually be protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Photo by Hamilton Police Hamilton cops continue to urge a teen suspect to surrender in the deadly shooting of an innocent bystander last Friday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account On July 11, Hamilton Police responded to a 'brazen daylight shooting' at about 5:25 p.m. near the Jackson Square shopping mall at the corner of King St. E. and James St. N., where a male suspect allegedly encountered three people who appear to have been the intended targets. Police said the male opened fire and struck one of the intended individuals, while also striking an innocent bystander — Belinda Sarkodie, 26 — who was 'simply going about her day' before being slain. Despite life-saving efforts from officers, police said Sarkodie was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victim, a male, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police said Mackale Lavoie, 17, is wanted for second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. Cops said they obtained an order permitting the publication of Lavoie's identity, who remains at large and whose identity would usually be protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Belinda Sarkodie, 26, who immigrated to Canada from Ghana last year, was at a Hamilton bus stop heading home after work when she was killed by a stray bullet on Friday, July 11, 2025. 'Mackale, we are urging you to seek legal counsel and turn yourself in,' Hamilton Police Det.-Sgt. John Obrovac said in a video statement on Thursday. 'We've executed multiple search warrants, and we will not stop until you are in custody.' Investigators have executed two search warrants at residences in Hamilton where Lavoie was believed to be. Despite these efforts, the accused remains at large. Police warned the public not to approach Lavoie and to contact police immediately by calling 911 or 905-546-4925. Police previously said that Sarkodie immigrated to Canada from Ghana last year and was living and working in Hamilton. Her brother lives in Manitoba and police have notified her family in Ghana. It was the second time in less than three months that an innocent young woman was fatally struck by a stray bullet while waiting at a Hamilton bus stop. Harsimrat Randhawa, a 21-year-old woman from India who was studying at Mohawk College, was shot dead April 17 on Hamilton Mountain while waiting for a bus at Upper James St. and South Bend Rd. — With files from Spiro Papuckoski. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Tennis MMA Editorials
CTV News
17-07-2025
- CTV News
Police raid home as hunt for 17-year-old Hamilton shooting suspect continues
Police are shown during the raid of a Hamilton home on July 17. Hamilton police raided a home overnight as they continued to search for a 17-year-old suspect who is wanted in connection with a double shooting that claimed the life of an innocent bystander last week. The shooting occurred near the Jackson Square shopping centre on King Street East just before 5:30 p.m. on July 11. Police have previously said that the suspect opened fire on three individuals who 'appear to have been the intended targets,' resulting in one of them sustaining a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The suspect then allegedly continued to shoot, resulting in an innocent bystander being struck by an errant bullet. Belinda Sarkodie, 26, died at the scene. Days later, police obtained a judicial order to identify Mackale Lavoie, 17, as the suspect in the shooting. On Thursday, police confirmed to CP24 that officers visited an address on Mary Street overnight as the hunt for Lavoie continued. Footage from CP24's cameras showed officers dressed in tactical gear outside the home as they carried out the operation. No arrests were made. 'We will continue to investigate all avenues of his whereabouts until he is captured and placed into custody,' a police spokesperson said. Lavoie is wanted for second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Hamilton Spectator
16-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Vigil planned for Belinda Sarkodie as Hamilton police search for alleged teen gunman
A vigil planned for Friday evening will mourn Belinda Sarkodie in the very spot where the 26-year-old innocent bystander's life was cut short. 'She had a bright future ahead of her and all of a sudden it's gone,' said Sam Opoku, president of the Ghana Association of Hamilton, one of the organizers of the vigil. The 75-year-old noted that he was 25 when he came to Canada, the same age as Sarkodie when she came to Hamilton last year for work and with the hope of pursuing further education. 'The Ghanaian community is saddened. We are crying, we are grieving,' he said. Opoku has been in touch with Sarkodie's brother, Richard, in Manitoba, and both the local Ghanaian community and the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario are working to support family, most who remain in Ghana. Mackale Lavoie, 17, is identified by police as a suspect in Friday's fatal shooting. He remains at large. The 26-year-old was killed in a shooting around 5:25 p.m. on Friday, July 11, outside of Jackson Square at King and James streets. Police allege 17-year-old Mackale Lavoie was the lone gunman, who targeted someone in a group of about three males on the busy street. One in the group, a man in his 20s, was shot but survived. Sarkodie, who had no connection to either the alleged shooter or targets, was shot near a bus stop and died on the sidewalk. She is the second innocent bystander killed while waiting for a bus in Hamilton this year. Since receiving judicial authorization under the Youth Criminal Justice Act to temporarily release Lavoie's name, Det. Sgt. John Obrovac, of the homicide unit, said police have received information from the public about the teen. 'We have received tips and information and are following up on everything that comes in,' he said. Police won't detail any specifics about the manhunt, but Obrovac said 'we have all available resources dedicated to finding the accused.' Police continue to encourage Lavoie to contact a lawyer and turn himself in and warn that anyone helping him can be charged with accessory after the fact. 'We will not stop looking,' he said. It remains unclear who within the group was the specific target, and the motive is not known, Obrovac said. The investigation is ongoing. There have been 22 shootings in Hamilton so far this year, following a record-high 60 shootings last year. Many of the shootings, including this latest incident, are marked by a complete disregard for people in surrounding areas. Most shootings are tied to drugs and gang activity and involve young men or teens carrying illegal handguns smuggled from the United States. During an interview this week for Placeline Hamilton , a podcast hosted by The Spectator's Scott Radley, deputy chief Ryan Diodati spoke about the concern Hamilton police have over shootings, each one a threat to safety. In response to the rise in gun violence, police made permanent the shooting response team , whose dedicated officers only investigate shootings. The team has had good success leading to many charges, and pleas in court, but Diodati noted that guns are not only a policing issue. Young people involved in drug or gang life are often influenced at an early age by people involved in the lifestyle, thinking it's an easy way to make money. Sometimes police hear that parents don't have control of their kids. 'It's disturbing,' he said. What makes this even more alarming in recent years is the proliferation of guns. Years ago, it was rare for police to find a gun, now they're routinely seizing them, including during traffic stops. Last year, Hamilton police seized 380 guns. Sarkodie was born in Konongo, Ghana, and came from a close-knit family, including her mother and father, who died in September 2017, brother and sister. She was the youngest child. 'Belinda was an affable person, known for her warmth, kindness, and gentle spirit,' her family said in a statement shared by police with The Spectator. 'She was deeply loved by her friends, family, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.' According to a GoFundMe organized by the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario, Sarkodie studied environmental sciences at the University of Education, Winneba — Mampong Campus in Ghana and graduated with honours in 2021. When she moved to Hamilton in 2024, it was 'with hopes of building a bright future.' 'Her time here, though brief, was filled with hard work, hope, and quiet strength.' Donations to the online fundraiser, In Loving Memory of Belinda Sarkodie , will go to her family for funeral and related expenses. Opoku said the vigil Friday is for all affected by Sarkodie's death and the senseless violence. The vigil takes place July 18 between 5 and 6 p.m. at King and James streets. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Police identify 17-year-old as suspect in killing of 26-year-old woman in downtown Hamilton
Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a teenager suspected in the fatal shooting of Belinda Sarkodie in Hamilton's downtown core. In a news release on Sunday evening, Hamilton police said they're looking for Mackale Lavoie, 17. The warrant for his arrest was issued under a second-degree murder charge and two counts of attempted murder. Police said that at 5:25 p.m. ET on Friday, a "male suspect encountered a group" of three people near James Street North and King Street East who "appear to have been the intended targets." "The male suspect opened fire, striking one of the individuals. As he continued to shoot at a second person, an innocent bystander — [Sarkodie] — was fatally struck," the news release said. Sarkodie, 26, was pronounced dead on the scene. A man was also struck by the gunfire and sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said. On Saturday, police said Sarkodie was originally from Ghana, had immigrated to Canada in 2024 and was an innocent bystander who was out with a friend when she was killed. Police said they obtained an order permitting the publication of Lavoie's identity. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a judge can grant an exemption to release the identity of a person under 18 if "there is reason to believe that the young person is a danger to others" or the "publication of the information is necessary to assist in apprehending the young person." Police urged the public to not approach Lavoie and to contact them immediately at 905-546-4925 or call 911 if anyone sees him.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Police identify 17-year-old as suspect in killing of 26-year-old woman in downtown Hamilton
Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a teenager suspected in the fatal shooting of Belinda Sarkodie in Hamilton's downtown core. In a news release on Sunday evening, Hamilton police said they're looking for Mackale Lavoie, 17. The warrant for his arrest was issued under a second-degree murder charge and two counts of attempted murder. Police said that at 5:25 p.m. ET on Friday, a "male suspect encountered a group" of three people near James Street North and King Street East who "appear to have been the intended targets." "The male suspect opened fire, striking one of the individuals. As he continued to shoot at a second person, an innocent bystander — [Sarkodie] — was fatally struck," the news release said. Sarkodie, 26, was pronounced dead on the scene. A man was also struck by the gunfire and sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said. On Saturday, police said Sarkodie was originally from Ghana, had immigrated to Canada in 2024 and was an innocent bystander who was out with a friend when she was killed. Police said they obtained an order permitting the publication of Lavoie's identity. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a judge can grant an exemption to release the identity of a person under 18 if "there is reason to believe that the young person is a danger to others" or the "publication of the information is necessary to assist in apprehending the young person." Police urged the public to not approach Lavoie and to contact them immediately at 905-546-4925 or call 911 if anyone sees him.
