Hamilton’s fifth homicide victim of the year believed to be targeted: police

Hamilton police have identified 23-year-old Everton Frost as the city's fifth homicide victim of the year, killed in what detectives believe was a targeted shooting Sunday evening.

Emergency services were called to Morris Avenue, a small, dead-end street near King Street East and Dunsmure Road around 8:12 p.m. and found the 23-year-old lying in the middle of the road with multiple gunshot wounds, said Det. Sgt. Sara Beck of the homicide unit. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It's unclear what Frost was doing before he was shot, however, Beck said he has family connected to the area."

There was a vehicle of interest in the area, however, its connection to the homicide is not yet clear. Police also can't say whether they believe there was more than one shooter or provide any suspect description.

Frost's death marks the fifth homicide of the year in Hamilton and is among a recent spike in shootings, including three over the past weekend alone.

At the scene Sunday night, a white tarp appeared to cover a body in the middle of Morris, which is off Glendale Avenue North, north of Dunsmure, and lined with fewer than 20 single-family homes. Used medical gear and a shoe were strewn nearby. The area was blocked off with police tape Monday and police remained in the area, including forensic investigators collecting and documenting evidence, as well as officers canvassing for witnesses.

There have been at least 44 shootings reported to police this year, including eight in the past two weeks.

Beck called the increase in shootings very concerning," adding that the police service is dedicating additional resources to the investigations.

There is no information to suggest a link between Frost's shooting and other shootings, she said. However, it is still early in the investigation and detectives are looking at all possibilities and all motives.

We do need people to come forward so we can stop this from happening again," she said, calling on people who know something to do the right thing."

It is all of our responsibility to create a safer community."

Beck noted that, given the number of shootings lately, it is lucky more people have not been killed.

Including Frost, there have been four people killed in shootings in Hamilton this year. This includes two homicides and two police shootings.

The first of the three shootings this past weekend happened shortly before 4 a.m. on Saturday in the area of Upper James Street and Churchill Avenue. Police said one person suffered non-life-threatening injuries. A 19-year-old man was later arrested and charged with firearm, assault and drug possession offences.

About an hour later, around 5 a.m. on Saturday, police were called to another shooting in the area of Sherman Avenue North, between Barton Street East and Princess Street. One man was taken to hospital by paramedics with non-life-threatening injuries. No suspects have been identified. Police said this shooting also appeared to be targeted.

Beck said police did not recover a weapon at the scene of Frost's shooting.

Little is known about Frost. He has lived in the Hamilton area for a long time. He was known to police, including for gun and drug offences. However, the motive for his shooting is not known.

Police are asking the public to check surveillance cameras in the area between 6 and 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. David Tsuchida at 905-546-4123.

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

Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com