Lawyer calls Hamilton man ‘bundle of contradictions’ following guilty plea in gas station shooting

A 30-year-old man, who brazenly fired a handgun in a busy central Hamilton neighbourhood last year, is a bundle of contradictions," his lawyer told court.

Jahval Williams-Pownall has both a history of crime and of extreme decency," defence attorney Reid Rusonik said in court May 3.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm with intent, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and two counts of possession of a firearm while prohibited by court orders. He was sentenced to seven years, according to a record of the hearing obtained by The Spectator.

On Feb. 8, 2021, he fired a handgun at least three times in the direction of a car leaving the Pioneer gas station at 603 King St. E., a block west of Grant Avenue, court heard. Yet after the shooting, he calmly paid for his gas at the kiosk.

This is the least of the contradictions" in Williams-Pownall's life, Rusonik said.

Addressing the court, Williams-Pownall said he takes full responsibility for his actions.

I've been trying to change my life," he said. But it has been difficult because he has a lifelong feud" with people he doesn't even know because of something that happened 15 years ago.

The 30-year-old has a criminal history that includes convictions for acts of violence, drug trafficking and offences against the administration of justice. No past convictions involved guns, but he was bound by four court-ordered weapons' bans at the time of the shooting.

Around 10:15 p.m. that February night, Williams-Pownall arrived at the gas station in a black Honda Accord, followed by Christopher Subah in an Audi, said assistant Crown attorney Kathy Malkovich. As Williams-Pownall pumped gas, he was approached. The two can be seen on video talking and walking back and forth before Subah gets into his car and drives away. That's when Williams-Pownall pulled a black handgun and fired.

Hamilton police were called by witnesses who heard four or five gunshots. On scene, police found three 9 mm shell casings.

It is remarkable no one was injured," Malkovich said, noting the area is busy and there are houses nearby.

When police tracked down the victim, he simply smiled and said he had nothing to say, she said. Williams-Pownall turned himself in to police in Halton Feb. 17. The gun was never located.

Malkovich said she found it incredibly sad and frightening at the same time" that he went on to pay for gas after the shooting, It appears a life of crime is so ingrained in his personality that the shooting had no effect on him.

However, his defence attorney said it shows that within the criminal world people can treat each other one way, and yet outside that world they can function according to society's morals.

After surrendering to police, the 30-year-old never sought bail and asked to plead guilty as soon as possible, Rusonik said. It was his intention from the point of surrender to resolve these matters and to take responsibility for his actions."

Throughout his life, Williams-Pownall has supported his family. Court heard he was the primary family caregiver for his mom, who was institutionalized when he was six for manic depression. She died of pancreatic cancer this March. It is his greatest regret" he was not there when she died, Rusonik said. He plans to use his time in jail to break out of his environment."

You are not a lost cause," Ontario Court Justice Marjoh Agro said. You have every motivation in the world to turn things around for yourself."

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