Charges for spree of random attacks in central Hamilton includes murder

A 38-year-old man, already in jail accused of attempted murder, is facing new charges of first-degree murder and another attempted murder charge in connection with a string of random attacks in central Hamilton this week.

Police allege there were three random attacks beginning around 6:30 p.m. on Monday and ending about seven hours later with the 38-year-old's arrest. The attacks left 29-year-old Andrew Ainscow dead and a 46-year-old woman with head injuries and a broken arm. A 39-year-old Hamilton man was also targeted, but escaped uninjured.

Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk of the major crime unit said he is absolutely grateful" to the witnesses who intervened in two of the cases, as their actions likely prevented two deaths.

There easily could have been more murders," he said. Unfortunately, Ainscow was the only victim who was alone when he was randomly attacked.

On Friday, police announced that Keith Overholt is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Ainscow, whose body was found Tuesday morning in a downtown alleyway. He is also facing a second attempted murder charge for the attempted stabbing of the 39-year-old man.

Overholt was already facing a charge of attempted murder in the random attack of the 46-year-old woman.

Detectives allege the spree began around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the corner of York Boulevard and Queen Street North, where the 46-year-old woman was - without warning - viciously attacked with a piece of wood. The attack only ended when witnesses intervened.

The attacker fled westbound, dropping the weapon. Part of the piece of wood was found by police in a nearby parkette.

Nearly seven hours later, 29-year-old Ainscow was sitting in an alleyway west of James Street South, between Duke and Bold streets, when he was randomly approached and stabbed multiple times. Bereziuk clarified Friday that police believe he was attacked around 1:14 a.m. on Nov. 10. His body wasn't discovered until shortly after 7 a.m.

No one reported hearing yelling or cries for help. Bereziuk believes the attack was swift and Ainscow likely died quickly.

About 10 minutes after the murder police allege the attacker tried to stab again.

In that incident, there was a group of people walking at MacNab Street South and Bold Street when a man armed with a knife appeared behind them. Police believe the attacker was targeting a 39-year-old man in the group. This stabbing was thwarted when the attacker was scared off by a people in a passing car who yelled in warning.

Soon after, Overholt was arrested at 1:30 a.m. A patrol officer spotted him at Jackson and MacNab streets after his image had been distributed by detectives investigating the first random attack.

It is not know where the alleged attacker went during the hours between the first attack and when Ainscow was stabbed. But police believe he was on foot and made his way downtown.

There are no other suspects and police are now satisfied that these three attacks were the only ones connected that night.

Police have also seized the knife that Bereziuk said is alleged to be the murder weapon and the weapon used in the second attempted murder.

What is not clear is why those three were targeted or what prompted the violence. They did not know the accused and there is no pattern to the victims. All of the attacks appeared to have happened without warning.

Ainscow was a Hamilton man with a loving family. He's been described a kind and intelligent.

He lived a minimalist lifestyle," Bereziuk said, adding that it was a way of life he chose, renting a room at the Salvation Army. He had been saving to rent an apartment for the colder months. He worked for an auto shop.

Ainscow also loved Formula One racing and would watch races on his phone.

A family member described him as: a great brother, a history fanatic and a good soul."

Overholt was previously known to police, including in an attempted arson case where police found a Cannon Street East duplex unit doused in gasoline. Overholt had been involved in an argument with another tenant and was later convicted of mischief endangering life.

He is next scheduled to appear in court on the murder and attempted murder charges Nov. 19.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Lisa Chambers at 905-546-3843.

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