Hamilton

Hamilton man killed outside nightclub remembered as 'good friend' to many

A small memorial constructed of flowers and condolences is growing on the south side of King William Street in front of Club Seventy-Seven.

Police still looking for suspects in fatal shooting

A Facebook photo of Vince Lofaro, victim of a May 13 shooting in downtown Hamilton. (Facebook)
A small memorial has been built on King William Street in front of Club Seventy-Seven, the site of a fatal shooting that took place on the morning of May 13. (Chris Seto/CBC)

A small memorial constructed of flowers and condolences is growing on the south side of King William Street in front of Club Seventy-Seven.  

The memorial is the only thing left on the street reminding passersby that a shooting took place at this site on Friday morning, claiming the life of a man and injuring a woman. 

Vincenzo Lofaro, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene following the shooting. He was father, an employee at the club and a friend of many.

The woman who was shot was taken to hospital with unreported injuries.
A bouquet of flowers sits in front of Club Seventy-seven on King William Street on Sunday afternoon, a memorial for the fatal shooting that took place at this site on May 13, 2016.

'An upbeat, positive guy'

Notes expressing love for Lofaro are pinned to colourful bouquets of flowers wrapped in clear plastic and taped to a lamp post in front of the club.

One note reads, "To my dad (Vinny) Love you forever, your son (Nate)."

Another reads "Rest in peace Vince. Gone but never forgotten."

Messages of condolences have flooded Lofaro's Facebook page. 

Cynthia Anne writes, "Omg I'm so shocked... such an upbeat, positive guy... Rest in peace, friend."

Jayne Scala writes, "You always made me smile and laugh. Rest in peace my friend I'm sorry to hear this news."

A visitation service and a prayer vigil will be held at Bay Gardens Funeral Home at 947 Rymal Road East on Wednesday. Visitation will be between 2 and 4 p.m., and between 6 and 9 p.m.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of All Souls Catholic Church at 21 Barton Street West on Thursday at 10 a.m.

An online obituary asks that memorial donations be given to the Sick Kids Hospital. 

"Vince always found joy in making everyone that he met smile and laugh," his obituary reads. "His happiness and love will never be extinguished and will live forever in our hearts."

Investigation still ongoing

At around 3 a.m. on Friday, police were called to the club at the corner of King William Street and Catharine Street N for reports of shots fired outside the building. The nightclub was closed at the time but had been open that night for a performance by the rapper N.O.R.E.

Police have not released any information about potential suspects or the circumstances surrounding the shooting. On Sunday afternoon, officers said the investigation is still ongoing and no further information was available.