A shooting that claimed the lives of two males, including a 16-year-old boy, early Wednesday morning may have been in “retaliation” for a bear spray attack that happened at a Hamilton, Ont., home earlier in the night, police say.
Police say the shots rang out at a home at a Candlewood Drive, near Rymal Road East and Upper Centennial Parkway, at around 2:25 a.m.
Two males, identified by police as 18-year-old Abdulmalek Shibli and 16-year-old Afef Binafif, were found suffering from gunshot wounds outside the residence, police said, and they were subsequently pronounced dead in hospital.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday morning, Det.-Sgt. Mike Ebert said at least six individuals attended the area when “an exchange of gunfire occurred.”
Ebert said he believes at least one of the individuals involved in the exchange of gunfire was also involved in a bear spray attack that occurred at a residence near Barton St East Centennial Parkway North at around midnight.
“At this time, police believe the shooting may have been retaliation for an earlier disturbance involving bear spray,” he said.
Ebert said they have not yet identified all of the parties involved in the two incidents and no suspects are in custody.
He said the families of the two victims are “devastated by the loss” and are asking for privacy at this time.
Ebert said officers are still in the process of collecting video evidence and interviewing witnesses.
He noted that it appears the residence on Candlewood was targeted in the shooting.
