Police have confirmed the identity of the 16-year-old teenager who passed away in a hospital following a shooting incident within Jackson Square, the retail center in downtown Hamilton, on Friday evening. The authorities were alerted to the incident around 5:10 p.m. on Friday, where they discovered Nabil Askafe, a Hamilton resident, inside the mall with severe injuries. Despite being rushed to the hospital by paramedics, Askafe succumbed to his wounds.
During a press briefing on Saturday, Detective Robert Di Ianni from the homicide investigation unit revealed that Askafe had recently moved to Canada from Syria with his immediate family, who are devastated by the tragic loss. Additionally, the police have identified a 14-year-old suspect in connection with the incident, labeling him as wanted for second-degree murder. The suspect turned himself in on Sunday, although it remains unclear if any charges have been filed.
According to Di Ianni, the altercation that led to the shooting took place near the entrance of the mall, where the suspect reportedly brandished a firearm, resulting in Askafe being shot. Despite the severity of his injuries, Askafe managed to walk to another store within the mall before collapsing and being discovered by emergency responders. The authorities have since resolved the search for the suspect, who is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Hamilton police have confirmed that all individuals involved in the altercation at Jackson Square have been located and no further suspects are being pursued. The mall has reopened for regular business operations after being cleared by authorities, with the cooperation of mall security in providing surveillance footage to aid the investigation.