Hamilton police continue intense hunt for teen murder suspect

Hamilton police continue to search for the suspect in Friday’s deadly shooting of an innocent woman and conducted a house raid early Thursday.

CHCH News was informed by a witness that a police raid happened around 1 a.m. on a home that is believed to be connected to 17-year-old Mackale Lavoie.

The teen is wanted in the shooting of twenty-six-year old Belinda Sarkodie who was waiting at a bus stop in downtown Hamilton when she was randomly shot.

Police say that Lavoie allegedly shot at three people who were standing near Sarkodie who was waiting at a bus stop near King and James streets.

Lavoie is now wanted for second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Police say the investigation is ongoing but did not reveal details about the house raid. The department did confirm that another address was searched last night for Lavoie, but he was not located.

The public search for the suspect began on Sunday after police obtained a court order that allowed for the publication of his name and photo, despite his status as a minor.

Hamilton police chief Frank Bergen says the crime activity in the downtown area where the shooing took place has prompted changes to core patrol.

Sarkodie immigrated to Canada from Ghana last year and was reportedly working to save money for her studies.

Efforts to set up a memorial for her near the bus stop have started and a vigil is being organized for Friday at 5 p.m., one week from her tragic death.

READ MORE: Vigil to be held Friday for innocent bystander killed in Hamilton shooting