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Hamilton police have arrested and charged a teenager four months after a shooting took place near a city center bus stop that left innocent bystander Belinda Sarkodie dead.
“The young punk thinks everything is fine and thinks they have enough rights to show up on a scooter and take the life of a 26-year-old girl, Belinda, from Ghana,” gang leader Frank Bergen said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The 17-year-old, now in custody, turned himself in Tuesday, a detective said. Sergeant John Obrovac. He is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.
“The suspect opened fire, wounding one of the individuals. Continuing to shoot the second man, an innocent bystander [Sarkodie] was fatally wounded,” police said after the July 11 shooting.
The wounded man received non-life-threatening injuries.
Left Ghana for Canada seeking asylum
Sarkodie left Ghana in 2024 to seek asylum in Canada as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, her friend Grace Nasiru previously told CBC Hamilton.
Sarkodie was the youngest of three children and sent money home to support her mother.
She worked at the Hamilton airport, but on Fridays she went to Jackson Square to grocery store.
Evelyn Aidu, who was like an aunt to Sarkodie, described her as kind, honest, funny and helpful.
“It’s not fair… She thought she was safe here,” Aidoo said.
