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Stoney Creek man arrested in targeted shooting that killed the wrong person

After a botched targeted shooting in January that killed 46-year-old David Stevens, Hamilton police say they have arrested a Stoney Creek man and charged him with first-degree murder.

A 23-year-old man is facing a first-degree murder charge for the death of David Stevens, who died on Jan. 29

Bobby Hristova · CBC News ·
Hamilton police are investigating the first homicide of the 2020 after an incident on Harvey Street — they now say the victim was an unintended target. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

Hamilton police have charged a Stoney Creek man with first degree murder in the botched targeted shooting in January of 46-year-old David Stevens.

Police believe the shooter and two other men hit the wrong room at a central Hamilton rooming house and killed the wrong man.

The 23-year-old from Stoney Creek was in court via video Wednesday morning at the John Sopinka Court House and was remanded into custody.

Brantford police arrested him on Valentine's Day for the murder of Jason Kossatz and attempted murder of two others at the Galaxy Motel on Colborne Street in Brantford.

The 23-year-old has been in custody since then.

Police eyeing two other suspects

Hamilton investigators say David Stevens was alone in his apartment on Harvey Street, surfing the web on his laptop at night, when he died.

Police say video shows three people kicking in the front door of the Harvey Street rooming house. Within 30 seconds, they found Stevens' room. There were six to choose from. They fired through his door using a single gun and killed him. 

Hamilton police describe the suspects' car as a four-door 2015 or older Chevrolet Cruze, silver or grey in colour, with no sunroof. It was last seen travelling southbound on Birch Ave and turning eastbound on Wilson Street just after 11:35 p.m. on Jan. 29. (Submitted by Hamilton Police)

Detectives say the three man ran out and drove away in a silver or grey coloured, Chevrolet Cruze, 2015 model or older, four-door with no sunroof. Police have yet to find the murder weapon or getaway vehicle.[

Paramedics arrived at around 11:30 p.m., to find Stevens wounded and unresponsive. They tried CPR and took him to the hospital. They later pronounced him dead.

Police say the three men in the video footage were trying to settle an ongoing dispute between the 23-year-old Stoney Creek man and one of the other occupants in the seven apartment rooming house where Stevens lived. 

Several tenants have since moved out of the rooming house, including the intended target.

Hamilton police believe they know all three suspects involved in the homicide. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

Officers arrested a 19-year-old Hamilton man on March 6 for Stevens' murder, released him unconditionally after an interview. He is still a suspect in the ongoing investigation.

On April 30,investigators from the Major Crime Unit say they interviewed a 20-year-old Hamilton man and believe he is the third man in the video.

Both men have been told to seek legal advice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bobby Hristova

Journalist

Bobby Hristova is a journalist with CBC Marketplace. He's passionate about investigative reporting and accountability journalism that drives change. He has worked with CBC Hamilton since 2019 and also worked with CBC Toronto's Enterprise Team. Before CBC, Bobby worked for National Post, CityNews and as a freelancer.

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