On July 11, 2025, at approximately 5:25 p.m., Hamilton Police officers rushed to the area around King Street East and James Street North after receiving several 911 calls about shots fired. Upon arriving, they encountered a chaotic scene and discovered two victims. A man suffering a non-life-threatening gunshot wound was swiftly transported to the hospital for treatment. Further west on King Street, they found 26-year-old Belinda Sarkodie, who had sustained a fatal gunshot injury. Despite first responders’ efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Belinda Sarkodie, who had come to Canada from Ghana in 2024 and was living and working in Hamilton, had been downtown visiting a friend when the shooting occurred. Investigators believe the gunman’s intended target was the male victim, making Belinda, who had no known ties to either the shooter or that individual, an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. The daytime attack has shocked the community.
Hamilton Police continue to investigate and have released a description of the suspect: a white male of medium build with brown hair, last seen wearing a black T-shirt featuring a white motif and a prominent red “V” on the back, blue shorts, dark socks and shoes, and a dark medical-style mask. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities to assist with the investigation.
