Belinda Sarkodie Obituary, Death; – Authorities have announced that they have identified a teenager as a suspect in the murder of Belinda Sarkodie, which occurred during a shooting in the downtown area of Hamilton.
In a press release issued on Sunday evening, Hamilton police named the suspect as 17-year-old Mackale Lavoie. A warrant has been issued for his arrest on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.
According to police, at 5:25 p.m. on Friday, a “male suspect encountered a group” of three individuals near the intersection of James Street North and King Street East, who “seem to have been the intended targets.”
“The male suspect opened fire, hitting one of the individuals. As he continued to shoot at a second person, an innocent bystander — [Sarkodie] — was fatally struck,” police stated in the press release.
She was declared dead at the scene. Additionally, a second victim, a male, was also hit by the gunfire but sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, according to police. On Saturday, police reported that Sarkodie, originally from Ghana, had immigrated to Canada in 2024 and was out with a friend at the time of her death.
Authorities urged the public not to approach Lavoie and to contact the police immediately at 905-546-4925 or call 911 if he is spotted.
