Homicide victim in brazen shooting identified as 19-year-old Hamilton man

Two dozen people watched in shock Tuesday afternoon as a man dressed in all dark clothing walked through a bustling downtown parking lot and brazenly shot a 19-year-old who was out socializing with a friend, Hamilton police say.

The victim, identified by police Wednesday as Sabir Hassen Omer, died minutes later after efforts to resuscitate him outside the Tim Hortons on the corner of King and Caroline streets were to no avail.

Police are describing the brazen daylight shooting - the latest in a string of gun-related incidents in Hamilton - as a senseless and targeted attack.

This is something that is unacceptable in the community," Det. Sgt. Jim Callender of the major crime unit told reporters Wednesday at a news conference. One shooting is too many, but this is another thing where it's happening in broad daylight, at a busy commercial industry, on a busy street and main artery of our city."

Callender said Omer and his friend were socializing in the lot at around 2:50 p.m. when a single suspect approached them on foot. A verbal altercation ensued. Then came a round of gunshots.

(T)he victims attempted to flee," said Callender, noting shots were aimed at both. Unfortunately, Mr. Omer was fatally shot."

Omer's friend was not injured.

The suspect fled southbound on Caroline, toward Main Street West, on foot. He remains at large, Callender said.

Callender did not disclose why the victims were targeted, but investigators believe they had some form of connection to the suspect.

I believe that the individuals may have some sort of association to each other," he said. That's at an initial glance of what we know right now."

It marks the city's 13th homicide of the year and fourth shooting in less than two weeks.

The minutes-long incident Tuesday left onlookers reeling. Three businesses - the Tims, a restaurant and a convenience store - were all open when shots rung out.

I think what you can appreciate is the initial shock of not knowing what's happening and then almost the trauma of actually figuring out what that resulted in," said Callender.

Residents in the area described the incident to The Spectator as chaotic and surreal.

Everyone was scrambling in the parking lot," said Steve Kolosonek, who watched a wave cruisers pull into the Tims lot from his balcony across the street. I could see (paramedics) were trying to resuscitate (the victim). It was surreal."

Police met with Omer's family Tuesday night as they were consoled by multiple community members," said Callender.

Obviously, this is something that no one ever wants to experience," he added. It's traumatic for them. They're looking for answers, and that's what we're asking the public to help us find."

The suspect is described as male, between five-foot-six and five-foot-eight with a medium build. He wore dark clothing, dark shoes and a black mask at the time of the shooting.

Police are asking the public to scan any surveillance cameras in the area between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

We know that there was a lot of individuals there," said Callender. It's very important to us that if you have information to share it with us."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Dave Brewster at 905-546-4067.

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

Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com