Police charge 25-year-old Hamilton man with attempted murder in west Mountain shooting

Police say they have arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with a shooting earlier this summer at a west Mountain townhouse complex.

Officers responded to a shooting at a Purnell Drive townhouse complex in the area of Upper Paradise Road and Garth Street at around 9:25 p.m. on July 21. Officers found a man with significant gunshot injuries," police said in a release. The victim, a 27-year-old man, was transported to hospital and remains in critical condition, police say.

The shooting took place in a grassy area outside one of the units, Const. Indy Bharaj said in July. Police say they believe it was targeted.

Police identified a suspect, Hamilton man Abakar Bechir, who they learned had left the province, and issued a warrant for his arrest. The accused was arrested by the RCMP on Sunday as he exited a plane at the Edmonton airport.

Bechir is charged with attempted murder while using a firearm and two counts of failing to comply with a release order. He is set to appear in court in Hamilton on Thursday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Robert Di Ianni at 905-546-3836.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com