Hamilton police investigating two targeted shootings Thursday night
Hamilton police are investigating two shootings within several hours of each other Thursday night.
There are no reported injuries in either shooting, but police say both appear to be targeted.
Two people were arrested and a gun recovered from the scene of the second shooting at Minto Avenue and Barton Street East, where police say a residence was targeted with gunfire around 10 p.m. Nobody within the residence was hurt.
Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman said that officers were in the area and happened to hear the gunshots and were able to get there immediately. The two men arrested are facing charges including discharging a firearm with intention, possessing of a prohibited firearm and breach charges.
Several hours earlier, police responded to reports of shots fired at a residence at a housing complex at 77 Purnell Dr. on the west Mountain around 7 p.m. Police said they immediately secured the area upon arrival and searched for suspects, but anyone involved had already fled.
Police said it's too early to know whether the shootings are related.
Evidence collected at the scene confirmed shots were fired. There have been no injuries reported, including at area hospitals checked by police.
The Purnell Drive housing complex, between Upper Paradise Road and Garth Street, south of Mohawk Road West, has been the site of several other recent shootings. Late on the night of Oct. 22, police were called there for a disturbance and shooting. Police found a gun had been fired in the parking lot. The incident was targeted but no one was hurt.
On July 21, police were called to 77 Purnell Dr. after a 27-year-old man was shot. In August, police arrested 27-year-old Abakar Bechir and charged him with attempted murder. Police said he left the province after the shooting and a warrant was issued for his arrest; he was arrested by RCMP officers as he exited a plane in Edmonton.
There have been at least 37 shootings in Hamilton this year, including three homicides.
Police are asking residents in the area of both Nov. 10 shootings to check surveillance cameras for any suspicious activity around the times of the shootings. Both shootings are under investigation by divisional criminal investigation branch detectives.
Anyone with information on the Purnell Drive shooting is asked to call Det. John Barron at 905-546-2389 or Det. Sgt. Ben Licop at 905-546-3851.
Anyone with information on the Minto and Barton shooting is asked to contact the Central criminal investigation branch at 905-546-3833.
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