Mother mourns dead teen son, asking why his killer is still at-large

In an emotional moment Thursday, a mother visited the spot in downtown Hamilton where her son was shot and killed a year ago.

Alexander Circiumaru was 18-years-old and his killer is still at large.

According to video footage, Circiumaru was walking on the sidewalk of King Street West when a car pulled up on the road beside him.

A man in a hood and mask got out of the car and shot him multiple times before getting back in the car and fleeing.

Melanie Ward lives in Florida, but visited Hamilton to honour her son Circiumaru, who was shot and killed at around 1 p.m. last March, in a busy downtown area near the Hamilton Convention Centre.

“I feel guilty, I shouldn’t have to come back to see my son and a grave, and then to see where he was murdered… I feel guilty that I have to leave knowing I can’t go see his grave every day,” she said.

Ward says she thinks about her son every day, “it doesn’t feel real, it really doesn’t. It’s like, my heart is shattered and I literally looked on the ground to see anything – I literally…I don’t know, like I’m numb.”

She described her son as a “funny kid” who was very outgoing and loved soccer.

Ward and her daughter to visit the spot where Circiumaru was killed, calling for answers from police as after one year later there are still no arrests.

“We know that somebody purposely killed my son, and somebody knows this person who did it – I want justice, I want this person to be put away in prison where they belong. They shouldn’t be able to walk in society,” she said.

Hamilton police have only released an image of the suspected shooter, and last month approved a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Ward says she is shocked by the amount of shootings that happen in Hamilton, “I look at this city and I’m just appalled.”

“Another shooting this morning, I’m on my way literally to his grave, and I’m like ‘are you kidding me’ – the day of my son’s day to go to a grave, and I have to pass by because there was a shooting,” she said.

Now, she can only wait and hope that some closure comes with an arrest.

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