17-year-old facing second-degree murder charge in July shooting that killed bystander
Written by The Canadian Press on November 19, 2025
HAMILTON — Hamilton police say a 17-year-old boy is facing multiple charges in a shooting that killed an innocent bystander in July.
Det. Sgt. John Obrovac says the accused teen turned himself in Tuesday and was charged with one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Belinda Sarkodie, 26, was killed in what police called a tragic and brazen daytime shooting in Hamilton’s downtown core on July 11.
Police said at the time that Sarkodie, who immigrated to Canada from Ghana in 2024, was going about her day after seeing a friend in the city’s downtown core.
They said two people were targeted in the shooting, one of whom was injured and brought to hospital.
Obrovac says investigators have still not determined a motive for the shooting, and the suspect had no connection to Sarkodie.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 19, 2025.
The Canadian Press