‘She was loved’: Local woman recalls final moments with Hamilton shooting victim

Flora Mason says she wasn’t concerned for her safety when she ran over, she was just focused on helping the best she could.

She wants Belinda’s family to know that she held her hand and said a prayer for her in her final moments.

“She didn’t deserve what happened to her. I’m happy that she had given Canada a chance and I hope that being with her during her last moments might actually show her that there are good people left in the world,” Mason said.

Tuesday was the first time Mason returned to the corner of King and James Streets since she ran to the scene to help victims of the brazen daylight shooting that happened a week and a half earlier.

She had been organizing games in Gore Park for Art crawl when shots rang out down the street on July 11, and instead of running away from the sound, she ran towards the chaotic scene.

“I just thought I should run over and see what’s happened, and see if I can help,” Mason said.

At the scene, she found a man suffering from gunshot wounds and a woman who appeared unresponsive who is now identified as 26-year-old Belinda Sarkodie.

WATCH MORE: 31-year-old man injured in east Hamilton shooting

“As I did get there, she had a very faint pulse, so I made the choice to say a prayer. As I was counting I told her ‘it’s okay beautiful, we’re here and we’re not going to leave you alone.’ if I was in that position, I would want someone to do that for me,” Mason says.

Flora learned CPR from her mom while growing up, she says that knowledge kept her steady and calm throughout the overwhelming situation.

She says she didn’t even notice as her purse was stolen, she’s working with her bank to try and recover the $180 taken.

Officers are still searching for the teenage suspect they say is involved.

Hamilton police say Belinda was an innocent bystander who was waiting for the bus when she was hit by a stray bullet.

Investigators believe the men standing next to her were the intended target and one was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“I want her family to know that she was loved, at least in those moments, I felt that love for her,” Mason said.

WATCH MORE: Vigil honouring Belinda Sarkodie held in downtown Hamilton