Hamilton police investigating daytime drive-by shooting in Stoney Creek

A Hamilton man escaped a stream of bullets unscathed Friday after a brazen drive-by shooting in a residential Stoney Creek neighbourhood.

Hamilton police said the adult man was walking his dog in the area of Dartmouth Gate and Galileo Drive, northwest of North Service and Glover roads, around 12:45 p.m. when two people jumped out of a car, got behind him and fired as many as four shots.

The victim ran into a nearby residence and was not hurt.

It's too early in the investigation to say if it was targeted or not," Const. Indy Bharaj said outside the scene. The individuals that came out of the vehicle did get a good look at who they were shooting at."

The unidentified suspects fled in a vehicle and remain at large, he added.

Bharaj said officers are canvassing the neighbourhood, speaking to witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage as they drum up suspect and vehicle descriptions.

The daytime incident prompted a large police presence in the quiet neighbourhood, which includes modern single-family townhomes near the shore of Lake Ontario.

Forensic investigators cordoned off a roughly 100-metre stretch between Dartmouth and Galileo. At least three shell casings could be seen strewn on the concrete.

It marks the 12th shooting in Hamilton this year.

Resident expressed shock to The Spectator and said the tight-knit neighbourhood is largely made up of young families.

I thought it was fireworks at first," said Ivan Curiel, who lives in a home within the police tape. It leaves you uneasy, for sure."

Curiel was on the phone with a client as the shots rang out, ironically telling them how peaceful and tight this neighbourhood is.

Like how if anyone gets a zit, we'll know," he said, laughing. But I guess not today because of (the shooting)."

It's very surprising," said longtime resident Lilly Rendulic. It's a P.A. Day, and then this happens in the middle of the day. There's lots of people walking around, kids playing."

Police said they would remain on scene until at least Friday night.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the criminal investigations branch at 905-546-2907.

Sebastian Bron is a reporter at The Spectator. sbron@thespec.com