Police focus on identifying suspect in brutal Hamilton alleyway attack

Hamilton police are trying to identify a man they say brutally beat a 46-year-old woman in a secluded alleyway early Monday.

The woman, who works in the sex trade, suffered life-threatening injuries in the sex assault attack near Emerald Street North and Barton Street East shortly before 3 a.m. June 27. She remains in hospital in critical condition.

From what we gather it was a chance meeting, he walked up to her on the street corner," said Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk, of the homicide unit.

A witness told police the victim and suspect met on the northwest corner of Barton and Emerald and crossed Emerald. They then walked into a laneway that runs east off Emerald, north of Barton.

The laneway leads to a fenced parking lot. The suspect and victim appear to have made their way through that fenced area and ended up near some sheds that back onto an alleyway that runs north off Barton, parallel to Emerald.

Soon after, the witness heard a woman scream and then saw the suspect, shirtless, running from the scene, Bereziuk said.

The witness flagged down a passing police car at 2:55 a.m.

Thankfully medical assistance got to her as early as it could," Bereziuk said.

Detectives have not been able to speak with the woman, who was expected to undergo surgery Tuesday.

The motive for the assault is unclear," he said.

Police cleared the scene shortly before 3 p.m. Monday. Their focus remains on identifying the suspect, who was captured on surveillance video.

He is described as a young Black man, tall, with short, braided hair. He wore a distinctive black and white NASA pullover jacket. Police believe he carried it with him as he ran from the scene. He was last seen fleeing westbound on Barton.

The attack has left sex workers and advocates sad and scared. SWAP (Sex Workers' Action Program) posted a safety warning on social media about the attack. Be on red alert, Hamilton," the message warned.

Jelena Vermilion, executive director of SWAP, said the victim has used her organization's services before. She has been in contact with the victim's mother about offering support.

Vermilion is planning a vigil for the woman in the next couple of weeks.

The victim is dealing with a broken jaw, nose, cheekbones, and will be undergoing surgery soon," she said. We pray for her recovery."

The attack is part of a wider problem in our community, she said.

I think it's reasonable to infer that she was targeted as a sex worker, because sex workers are seen as fodder for male violence, and often as having less human worth and dignity than those who do not sell sexual services," Vermilion said.

We are disheartened to hear of violence against a sex worker in our community but it's unfortunately not surprising, because the criminalized atmosphere we live under in Canada makes it possible for sex workers to be targeted on an ongoing basis."

It's chilling for others working in the sex trade who fear violence and that the community doesn't care.

It further underscores the idea that when sex workers are attacked it's excused by community, justified as an occupational hazard or people just don't care," Vermilion said.

SWAP has shared the suspect image and issued the warning to caution others to be safe. Vermilion says laws criminalizing sex work put vulnerable sex workers in danger.

We're sad, we're afraid, we're worried," she said.

Hamilton police said there is no indication this case is tied to any other incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Lisa Chambers of the homicide unit at 905-546-3843. 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