A 26-year-old Ghanaian student, Belinda Sarkodie, has been shot dead in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in what was believed to be a gang-related shootout.

Multiple reports said the incident took place on Friday, adding that Ms Sarkodie was an innocent bystander who was fatally shot.

Eyewitnesses stated another victim was also shot but survived with injuries.

Preliminary reports indicated that the deceased was checking herself in a mirror at the bus top when the unfortunate incident occurred.

Police in Hamilton identified the 17-year-old suspect, Mackale Lavoie, in the murder of the international student and issued a warrant for his arrest.

The teenage suspect’s arrest warrant indicated a second-degree murder charge and two counts of attempted murder.

The police, according to the CBC report said, “A male suspect encountered a group of three people near James Street North and King Street East who appear to have been the intended targets. The male suspect opened fire, striking one of the individuals. As he continued to shoot at a second person, an innocent bystander — (Sarkodie)— was fatally struck.’’

It urged the public not to approach him upon sighting but to contact the police.  

The student was said to have died on the scene.  Ms Sarkodie’s death adds to the list of foreigners killed in gun violence in some Canadian provinces.

In April, a foreign student from India Harsimrat Randhawa was killed by gunfire while waiting for a bus in Hamilton. Last year, another Ghanaian, Adu Boakye, was tragically shot dead in a Toronto bus stop attack.

In January 2025, another Ghanaian international student, 23-year-old Alfred Okyere, died after he was stabbed multiple times by a 53-year-old co-worker, Troy Leclair, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

In December 2023, the Winnipeg police shot dead a 19-year-old international student, Afolabi Opaso, from Nigeria.  

In 2022, two Nigerian students, Chibueze Momah, 22, and Tosin Amos-Arowoshegbe, 25, were shot dead at a nightclub in Vaughan, Ontario.