Hamilton man charged with 1st-degree murder in 2023 Daniel Musafiri homicide

A Hamilton man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 29-year-old Daniel Musafiri just over two years ago.

The shooting happened around 10:50 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2023 outside of Boulevard Billiards on York Boulevard, near Queen Street North.

Hamilton police say Musafiri had exited the pool hall and was confronted by Erik Kalanyos, also 29, in a nearby parking lot. After a brief verbal exchange, Musafiri was shot.

When officers arrived, they found Musafiri suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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Police say Kalanyos — who was wanted at the time for breaching his parole — fled the scene in a 2022 black Dodge Challenger Hellcat. The vehicle and the weapon used in the targeted shooting have not been recovered.

“I have no information that they were known to each other prior to this night,” homicide Det. Mike Ebert said during a press conference Thursday.

During a separate investigation, detectives uncovered new information linking Kalanyos to Musafiri’s death.

Ebert says Kalanyos was already in custody at the time of his arrest, awaiting sentencing on human trafficking charges.

“For more than two years, Daniel’s family has carried the unimaginable weight of losing a loved one to violence,” Ebert said.

“Investigators recognize the profound impact his death has had on those closest to him and have remained committed to pursuing justice on their behalf. While no arrest can undo the pain of this loss, we hope this development provides some measure of relief to Daniel’s family as the matter proceeds through the courts.”

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‘My life was completely shattered when my son was killed’

Musafiri’s mother, Mosengo Immaculee, says the loss of her son has left her devastated.

“My life was completely shattered when my son was killed,” she wrote in a statement. “No words can truly describe the pain of a mother losing her child.”

Immaculee said the loss has left an overwhelming emptiness in her life, especially after already losing her husband.

“As a Christian woman, my faith in God is the only thing helping me carry this heavy grief,” she said. “No mother should ever have to bury her child.”

Anyone with additional information that may assist investigators is asked to contact Det. Alex Buck at 905-546-4123.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

This is a developing news story. More to come.

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