The vigil took place on the rooftop of Jackson Square Mall, near the corner of King Street East and James Street South, just steps from where Sarkodie was fatally shot last Friday, July 18.

Hamilton Police described Sarkodie as an innocent victim who was simply going about her day when a gunman opened fire at approximately 5:25 p.m.

Police say the suspect, a 17-year-old male, was allegedly targeting three other individuals when Sarkodie was struck and killed.

The Ghanaian Association of Hamilton has expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a senseless act that has left the community shaken.

The Association is organizing another public vigil this  Friday at the intersection of King and James to honour Sarkodie’s life and memory.

In a statement, the Association noted that it is collaborating with other Ghanaian groups to support Sarkodie’s family back in Ghana as they navigate the aftermath of the tragedy.

Meanwhile, a manhunt remains ongoing for the teenage suspect, who has been charged with second-degree murder. A court order permitting the release of the teen’s identity has since expired.

Hamilton Police responded to a “brazen daylight shooting” at about 5:25 p.m. near the Jackson Square shopping mall at the corner of King St. E. and James St. N., where a male suspect allegedly encountered three people who appear to have been the intended targets.

Police said the male opened fire and struck one of the intended individuals, while also striking an innocent bystander — Belinda Sarkodie, 26 — who was “simply going about her day” before being slain.

Belinda Sarkodie, 26, who immigrated to Canada from Ghana last year, was at a bus stop heading home after work when she was killed by a stray bullet on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Despite life-saving efforts from officers, police said Sarkodie was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victim, a male, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said Mackale Lavoie, 17, is wanted for second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. Cops said they obtained an order permitting the publication of Lavoie’s identity, who remains at large and whose identity would usually be protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police warned the public not to approach Lavoie and to contact police immediately by calling 911 or 905-546-4925.

Police previously said that Sarkodie immigrated to Canada from Ghana last year and was living and working in Hamilton. Her brother lives in Manitoba and police have notified her family in Ghana.

A video shared to Facebook shows a distraught woman wailing near the crime scene in Hamilton.

“Belinda was just 26 years old,” a Ghanaian woman who witnessed the incident told Ghana Web. “She came to Canada for school. Today is my off-day. I was going to shop and she was also going to shop when she met her untimely death.”

It was the second time in less than three months that an innocent young woman was fatally struck by a stray bullet while waiting at a Hamilton bus stop.

Harsimrat Randhawa, a 21-year-old woman from India who was studying at Mohawk College, was shot dead April 17 on Hamilton Mountain while waiting for a bus at Upper James St. and South Bend Rd.

Source: yahoo.com

The incident, which occurred on Friday, July 11, has sent shockwaves through the local community and the Ghanaian diaspora in Canada.

According to preliminary reports, Ms. Sarkodie was checking herself in a mirror at the bus stop when she was fatally shot in the head.

The act of violence also involved two other individuals, one of whom died at the scene, while the third sustained injuries but survived.

Eyewitness accounts, including one relayed to Bigscout Media, suggest that Belinda Sarkodie may have been an unintended victim, potentially struck by a stray bullet amidst what is believed to have been a gang-related shootout.

This scenario, where innocent bystanders become casualties of escalating gun violence, has become a growing concern in several Canadian cities. Just in April 2025, an international student from India, Harsimrat Randhawa, was similarly killed by a stray bullet while waiting for a bus in Hamilton, highlighting a disturbing pattern.

In February 2024, Adu Boakye, another Ghanaian, was tragically shot dead in a random attack near a bus stop in northwest Toronto, leaving behind a family in Ghana for whom he was the sole breadwinner.

As of the latest reports, Hamilton Police have cordoned off the crime scene and are actively investigating the incident.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and no arrests have been made. Information from various media outlets indicates that Belinda Sarkodie had no known immediate family in Canada, a detail that deepens the sorrow for those in the Ghanaian community who are now grappling with her sudden and violent death.

Hamilton also hosts a significant number of Ghanaian immigrants, many of whom are professionals and students seeking better opportunities.

The news of Ms. Sarkodie’s death reverberates strongly within this close-knit community, raising concerns about safety and security for Ghanaians living abroad.

The Ghanaian High Commission in Ottawa and other Ghanaian associations in Canada are expected to be in contact with local authorities to follow up on the investigation and offer support, particularly in facilitating arrangements given Ms. Sarkodie’s reported lack of local family.

This tragic event underscores the global reach of gun violence and its devastating impact on individuals and their communities, regardless of their origin.

As the police continue their work, the Ghanaian community in Hamilton and beyond mourns the loss of Belinda Sarkodie, an innocent life caught in the crossfire.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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