Police get court order to ID teen wanted in fatal Hamilton mall shooting

Hamilton police's incident command van parked outside Jackson Square following a shooting on Friday, April 24, 2026. (CP24)

Editor’s Note - April 26, 2026: This article has been updated to remove the name of the teenage suspect who has surrendered to Hamilton police.

Police in Hamilton have obtained judicial authorization to identify a teenager who is wanted in connection with the “targeted” fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy at Jackson Square mall on Friday.

The 14-year-old boy from Hamilton is wanted for the second-degree murder of Nabil Askafe, also of Hamilton.

“Efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest him,” Hamilton Police Service said in a news release late Saturday afternoon.

The court order allowing the name and photograph of the minor to be publicly identified is in effect until midnight on April 29.

Shooting occurred around 5 p.m. on Friday

At around 5 p.m. on Friday, shots rang out near a Himalayan restaurant inside the downtown shopping centre, following what police are calling an altercation between the victim and two males, one of whom still remains unidentified.

During a news conference on Saturday afternoon, Det. Det. Robert Di Ianni said the identified suspect is believed to have carried a concealed firearm “larger than a handgun” that was used in the fatal shooting.

The detective said the victim was able to walk about 100 feet to a mobile phone store where he collapsed and was located by emergency responders a short time later.

Di Ianni is urging the teenage suspect to get a lawyer and turn himself in.

So far, few details have been released about the second individual, whom investigators now believe was unarmed. They are also encouraging him to come forward as they work to “determine his culpability” in the incident.

• READ MORE: 16-year-old boy killed in Hamilton mall shooting

Police say they’re also still working to ascertain what, if any, kind of relationship may have existed between the two males and the victim prior to the shooting.

‘Heartbreaking tragedy’

Di Ianni described what occurred as a “heartbreaking tragedy,” one he said “deeply impacts family, friends, and the entire Hamilton community.”

“Our thoughts are with all those grieving this devastating loss, and Nabil’s family has requested privacy as they deal with their loss,” he said.

“I know that his family loves him. They’re deeply affected by this tragedy. They recently immigrated here from Syria and they’re completely devastated at this loss.”

The detective said the teen leaves behind his mother and father, a younger brother, and a “large supportive family network.”

Jackson Square, which was evacuated following the incident, has since reopened for business as investigators have now cleared the scene.

This investigation is ongoing and police are continuing to comb through video surveillance from the area and speak with witnesses.

Anyone who was involved in this fatal shooting or anyone who may have witnessed it is being urged to contact Det. Matt Drumm at 905-546-3865 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

With files from CP24’s Bryann Aguilar