Fatal shooting of 17-year-old girl happened in accused man’s home

On the night 17-year-old Myah Larmond was fatally shot, she was one of a handful of people to gather and party at the St. Matthews Avenue residence of Devante Skye-Davis.

Before the night was through, police allege the 21-year-old man, whom she had a relationship with, shot her around 4 a.m. on July 15.

The shooting wasn't intentional, but it would also be too far to say it was accidental, said Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk of the major crime unit.

It's possible there was the belief that the gun was unloaded," he said. But obviously it was not unloaded."

It's an easy out" for someone to claim they didn't know a gun was loaded, but the bottom line" is you don't handle a firearm recklessly and carelessly, he added.

Skye-Davis, who rented the semi-detached central Hamilton home, had invited a few people over that night. It wasn't an out-of-control party, but drugs and alcohol were involved, Hamilton police allege.

She didn't go there knowing there would be a gun there," Berezuik said of the young victim. She was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time."

It's possible anyone could have been shot, he added.

After the gun went off, Skye-Davis stayed at the scene, Bereziuk said. But there was confusion about what happened and police did not initially have the grounds to arrest him.

But around 2:30 a.m. the next day, he returned to the scene where police were continuing to process evidence. By that point homicide investigators had enough grounds to make an arrest.

Skye-Davis is charged with manslaughter. He briefly appeared in court by video Thursday and is scheduled to be back in court July 23.

The legal definition of manslaughter is a homicide that is not intentional.

In the chaos after the shooting, two men were described as running away down an alleyway. Those men were initially described as suspects, but police now say they're witnesses.

Bereziuk encouraged those men to come forward, noting police will find out who they are.

Other witnesses have been co-operative and police have received many tips on Crime Stoppers, he added.

On Friday, forensic investigators were finishing up processing the scene. Then police were expected to go back in for a more thorough search, looking for the murder weapon, which has not yet been found.

It's believed to be a handgun. How and why the accused allegedly came to possess the handgun is part of the investigation.

Bereziuk would not comment on what, if anything, Skye-Davis said when interviewed after his arrest.

The Hamilton man was previously known to police.

There are a lot of posts on social media - mourning Larmond, speculating about what happened that night and condemning Skye-Davis. Investigators are aware of comments on social media and the Hamilton police technical crime unit has an officer assisting with the case.

However, Bereziuk cautioned that rumours spread fast and not all information shared is necessarily good information.

We want direct information from people at the house and those who had direct contact after the incident," he said.

Larmond was a 17-year-old high school student who lived with her mom in Hamilton. Her devastated family has asked for privacy, police said.

Bereziuk confirmed that Larmond and Skye-Davis had previously been in a relationship," but declined to provide details.

Friends and people online have said they dated.

Makayla Baranowski described Larmond as having the sweetest soul" and her intentions were always pure."

She really was just so sweet," she added. She was just glowing, always."

Baranowski, 18, said she met Larmond through a friend in Grade 6. Although they didn't go to the same school - Larmond attended Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary - they would often hang out in large groups.

They'd go to the movies and the Winona Peach Festival, and Baranowski said they loved" to go to public skating and dances at the Valley Park Community Centre in Stoney Creek.

My favourite memories of Myah was when we were kids just having fun," she said.

Over the years, Baranowski said they remained in close contact and frequently checked in on one another. She considered Larmond to be the aunt" of her son Kaydence, despite them not actually being sisters.

She never gave up on me," said Baranowski. I loved Myah with all my heart."

Baranowski said she and Larmond had planned to get together this past Friday night but those plans fell through. When she got the news of Larmond's death, she was nearly hysterical."

The first thing I did was drop to my knees and screamed and cried," said Baranowski.

Remembering Larmond, Baranowski said she was a down to earth, outgoing and blissful" girl that never judged anyone." Baranowski said she was a hard worker, having worked at the Dairy Queen in Stoney Creek for years.

She was just that type of person who had an impact on your life no matter how many times you talked to her," she said. You won't be able to find a single person on this planet that would say anything negative about Myah."

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Geoffrey Burbidge at 905-546-2288.

To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com