Police have identified the 16-year-old boy who died in hospital after a shooting inside Jackson Square, the downtown Hamilton shopping mall, on Friday evening.
They have also identified a 14-year-old suspect, who is now wanted for second degree murder.
Officers were called to the mall Friday at around 5:10 p.m. Nabil Askafe, of Hamilton, was found in the mall suffering from life-threatening injuries, police say.
Paramedics rushed Askafe to hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Di Ianni said Askafe had recently immigrated from Syria with his mother, father and younger brother. “His family loves him, they’re deeply affected by this tragedy,” he said.
In a news conference Saturday, Det. Robert Di Ianni of the homicide investigation unit told reporters Askafe was walking on King Street W. near Hess Street towards the mall. The teens initially interacted with each other outside the mall.
He said they had a physical altercation where the 14-year-old brandished a firearm and shot Askafe. The altercation happened “just inside the doors” of the mall on King Street W. near a Himalayan restaurant.
Di Ianni said Askafe walked towards a Wireless+ store a few feet from the entrance, where he collapsed.
Hamilton police have identified 14-year-old Lucas Turnbull as a suspect, who allegedly shot Askafe, Di Ianni said. Turnbull is wanted for second degree murder and efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest him.
“Police are urging Lucas to contact investigators or seek legal counsel and turn himself in,” police said in a news release Saturday night.
Police obtained judicial authorization to identify Turnbull in order to locate him. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a judge can grant an exemption to release the identity of a person under 18 if “there is reason to believe that the young person is a danger to others” or the “publication of the information is necessary to assist in apprehending the young person.”
Di Ianni said the firearm appeared to be larger than a handgun. He added Askafe was able to walk himself to a different store after the shooting, where he collapsed and was located by first responders.
Police are working to identify a second individual who fled the scene, according to Di Ianni. Hamilton police had previously said both the 14-year-old and the other individual were believed to be carrying a gun, but Di Ianni said that is no longer the case and investigators are working to determine the other person’s level of culpability.
The two people of interest were initially described as white, one of whom was wearing a grey tracksuit, while the other was wearing a blue tracksuit, according to Hamilton police.
Di Ianni says both are encouraged to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in. If seen, members of the public are urged not to approach, but to call 911 immediately.
Di Ianni said the scene has been cleared and the mall is open for business, as usual. He said the mall’s security assisted with clearing the mall and cooperated with Hamilton police to provide video surveillance.
