Hamilton

Brampton man charged with manslaughter in death of Hamilton man killed in October, police say

Hamilton police have arrested and charged a Brampton resident in connection to the shooting death of Hamilton man Tito Kelly last year. Police announced they have charged Donte Smith, 36 with manslaughter. Smith remains in custody with a bail hearing scheduled for July 11.

The victim, 36-year-old Tito Kelly, died of a gunshot wound last year

Hamilton police say they have charged the 22-year-old son of a man killed in Stoney Creek on Saturday with his murder.
Hamilton police have arrested a Brampton man in connection to the 2023 shooting death of Tito Kelly. (CBC News)

A Brampton man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Hamilton man last year and, police say, charged with manslaughter.

Donte Smith, 36, was arrested in connection to the death of Tito Kelly, also 36, who police say died of a gunshot wound on Oct. 3, 2023.

In October, police responded to reports of shots fired at 111 Herkimer Street. Police said they found Kelly in an alleyway near where the shooting occurred. They say he died in hospital. 

A portrait of a man with cornrows posing with his hand on his chin. There is a Hamilton police Service watermark on the image.
Hamilton Police say Tito Kelly died of a gunshot wound on Oct. 3, 2023. (Hamilton Police Service)

Police also said they believe one other person is involved in Kelly's death and said that the investigation is ongoing.

Investigators said they also believe the incident resulted from a drug transaction that led to both sides exchanging gunfire.

Another male, who is not being identified by police, was hit with a gunshot wound in the arm and received treatment at a hospital.

Kelly was the city's eighth homicide victim of 2023. Smith remains in custody with a bail hearing scheduled for July 11.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nathan Fung is a reporter with CBC Hamilton, with a strong interest in covering municipal issues. He has previously worked as a reporter in Ottawa and Edmonton. You can reach him at nathan.fung@cbc.ca