3 suspects sought in daytime shooting in downtown Hamilton

Hamilton Police are looking for three suspects following a daytime shooting Saturday afternoon.

Police say multiple witnesses called police at approximately 3:30 p.m. with reports of gunshots near Wentworth Street South and Rutherford Avenue, at the base of the Sherman access.

A 19-year-old man was found at the scene, the victim of an attempted robbery. Police said three men in their late teens to early-20s exited a light-coloured, four-door sedan and approached the man.

"As the men approached it was indicated that they made demands for property before one of the men pointed a firearm and another displayed a knife," police said in a media release, issued Sunday.

"This caused the victim to run away but not before one of the suspects began shooting at him with the firearm and another chasing him while armed with the knife."

The 19-year-old was not injured or hit by any bullets, but police said the robbery was "not a random incident."

In light of a series of shooting incidents in downtown Hamilton — including daytime shootings in the North End and gun fights that have been caught on dash camera — Chief Glenn De Caire issued a statement saying "Hamilton Police Service takes these crimes involving gun violence in the community serious."

"The investigators are committed to following up every lead and working in partnership with the community."