Man arrested in fatal shooting of HWCDSB student, Myah Larmond

A 21-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter in connection to the shooting death of a 17-year-old girl early Wednesday morning that police say appears to have been caused by recklessness."

Police have identified the victim as Myah Larmond, a high school student in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board who lived with her mother in the city.

Shortly after 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning, police were responded to a 911 call at 16 St. Matthews Ave. When officers arrived at the home, they found a teenage girl suffering from a gunshot wound.

She was taken to Hamilton General Hospital in life-threatening condition and died around 9:30 a.m., said Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk of the major crime unit.

Larmond did not live in the home where she was shot but knew at least one person who did.

Police said officers working overnight on the investigation were able to identify a suspect in Larmond's death.

The suspect was located near the scene by officers and was arrested at 2:35 a.m. on Thursday, according to a media release.

Devante Skye-Davis, 21, who appeared at John Sopinka Courthouse by video Thursday, has been charged with manslaughter, according to Mateja Anic, supervisor of court operations.

Skye-Davis was remanded into custody until a bail hearing set for July 23.

At this time, the evidence supports an element of carelessness and recklessness by the accused," stated the release. There is currently no evidence to suggest the victim was the intended target."

Police were unable to provide any additional context to what exactly that meant on Thursday. In the Criminal Code, manslaughter is a homicide committed without the intent to cause death.

Police have obtained a search warrant for the St. Matthews Avenue home where the shooting took place. Officers could be seen Thursday going behind the semi-detached house with cameras and holding brown paper bags.

The front of the house remained taped off and there was a padlock on the front door.

The discarded firearm, which police believe to be a handgun, still remains outstanding."

Residents are encouraged to search their properties in case the weapon may have been tossed or concealed in their yard.

Family hysterical' after death

On Wednesday, Bereziuk said Larmond's family was extremely distraught, they're hysterical, you can imagine getting this information."

It's a very sad incident," he added.

In a statement Thursday, Hamilton Catholic school board chair Pat Daly said the school will be contacting Larmond's family to offer support.

The HWCDSB fully understands and respects the family's request for privacy during this difficult time," he said. Our thoughts and prayers are with Myah and her family."

The board will have social workers and its compassionate, care and crisis response team available to support staff and students, Daly said. The board would not disclose what school Larmond attended, citing privacy reasons.

Dana Vickers, a friend of Larmond's, told The Spectator that the teen had a personality that glowed" and that she was liked by everyone."

Myah loved to love and loved to make sure others felt her love," said Vickers, in a Facebook message. She was a whole angel in every aspect."

Unanswered questions

As of Thursday, police had not yet provided any details about what transpired in the house prior to the shooting.

Bereziuk said investigators believed there were as many as five people inside the main area of the home when the gun went off. Police were initially looking for two males in their early 20s that were said to have fled out the back door of the home.

It's unclear if they are looking for any additional suspects.

Police have not confirmed any relationship between Larmond and Skye-Miller but Vickers said the pair had dated." She could not confirm for how long and if they were still in a relationship at the time of the shooting.

People that were in the house at the time of the shooting have been advised to come forward to police. Bereziuk said the home was not known to police so the shooting was a bit of a shocking event," he said.

On Wednesday, a pool of blood could be seen on the sidewalk, with a trail of blood leading up the front stairs and further into the home.

Sue Cormier, who lives next door to where the shooting took place, said she was sleeping on her couch when she woke up to screaming around 4 or 4:30 a.m.

(I) heard at least two girls and one guy saying, Oh my god, oh my god.'"

She said she heard screams coming from both inside and outside the semi-detached house where a young guy" lived.

I never heard the gun," she said. I just heard the screaming."

Vickers said Larmond didn't deserve" to lose her life over carelessness."

Nor did (Larmond's) mother" deserve to lose her daughter, Vickers said.

Anyone with information in relation to the shooting is asked to call Det. Geoffrey Burbidge at 905-546-2288.

To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit anonymous tips online at crimestoppershamilton.com.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com - With files from Nicole O'Reilly and Sebastian Bron