Hamilton's inner city is grappling with a surge in violence, as another young life was lost to gunfire on Thursday evening. Police were called to 191 Main St. around 6:30 p.m. following reports of shots fired. Officers discovered 19-year-old Talon Williams-Parkin suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his wounds.
This latest slaying comes just days after the community mourned the death of 16-year-old Nabil Askafe, who was fatally shot inside the Jackson Square mall on April 24. Askafe, a student at Westdale Secondary School, was killed after what detectives described as a small interaction with a younger teen that began several blocks from the mall. He walked about 100 meters inside the mall before being shot and collapsing.
In a bitter twist, around 200 people had gathered at Hamilton City Hall, just two blocks from the latest murder scene, to honor Askafe's memory. Imam Sayed Tora, director of the youth center at the Hamilton Muslim Mosque, addressed the crowd, questioning how a 14-year-old could obtain a gun. He urged the community to work together to tackle youth violence, emphasizing that every life is precious.
The accused shooter in Askafe's case, a 14-year-old boy, surrendered to police on Sunday after authorities released his image. He faces a charge of second-degree murder and remains in custody. Police reported that at least seven shots were fired during the incident.
The Thursday night murder occurred inside a highrise building owned by CityHousing Hamilton, located between Caroline and Hess Streets. The building houses seniors and includes several floors dedicated to Wesley Youth Housing. Police and fire crews are frequent responders to the location. Investigators believe that others may have been shot but fled the scene. No arrests have been made so far.
This surge in violence has made Jackson Square a focal point for crime. In November 2023, an argument over $30 led to the fatal stabbing of 52-year-old Kevin Brown, with Nathan Kanis-Lynch, 25, charged with second-degree murder. In March 2024, 19-year-old Alexander Circiumaru was shot and killed in a brazen daytime shooting on a busy sidewalk, a targeted and premeditated execution. Police are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in his case.
In July 2024, another daytime shooting occurred steps from where Circiumaru was killed, leaving a man with life-threatening injuries. A 15-year-old was sentenced to just two years in custody for that shooting. In August 2025, 26-year-old international student Belinda Sarkodie was killed in a daytime shooting near a bus stop during an Art Crawl event. A 17-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder in her death.
Most recently, in January 2026, 67-year-old Jerzy Nataluk was killed in what police describe as an unprovoked attack inside Jackson Square. Security guards found him unconscious after he was sucker punched, causing him to fall and suffer severe head injuries. Gerald Deschamps, 48, has been charged with manslaughter.
Authorities urge anyone with information about any of these crimes to contact Hamilton Police at 905-546-4725 or Crime Stoppers.
