Woman killed in Friday downtown Hamilton shooting was innocent bystander

Hamilton Police say 26-year-old Belinda Sarkodie, an international student from Ghana, was an innocent bystander when she was gunned down early Friday evening in downtown Hamilton.

Sarkodie had immigrated to Canada in 2024, and was living and working in Hamilton. At the time of the shooting, she was spending time with a friend in the downtown core, said Det. Sgt. John Obrovac.

Obrovac said Sarkodie’s family in Ghana and her brother in Manitoba have been notified and spoken to.

Police are looking for a white man with a medium build and brown hair. He was described to be wearing a black t-shirt with a white design on the front and a large “V” on the back.

They say the suspect was also wearing blue shorts, dark socks, dark shoes and a dark coloured medical-style mask.

Obrovac said at this time, the suspect may have known the man who was injured and targeted him, but have not determined a motive for the attack yet.

He said there is no information to suggest that the suspect and Sarkodie had known each other, or that she was targeted.

Detectives say there is no known connection between Sarkodie and the man who was injured.

Obrovac said the injured man who was sent to hospital has spoken with police.

WATCH MORE: Fatal shooting in Hamilton near Jackson Square mall kills one woman, injures one man