Attempted Murder Charge Laid in Burlington Shooting

Published July 12, 2017 at 7:21 pm

A Hamilton man is facing charges – including attempted murder – in connection with a shooting at a Burlington motel.

A Hamilton man is facing charges – including attempted murder – in connection with a shooting at a Burlington motel.

“An adult female and an adult male were the intended victims,” said Halton police Det.-Sgt. Joe Barr.

Police say the suspect went to the reception desk of the Motel 6 on North Service Rd. at 3:09 a.m. on July 11.

The man allegedly opened a knapsack and showed the employee a handgun, demanding access to a room where the suspect believed a female acquaintance was staying.

The suspect was given access to the room, which turned out to be unoccupied at the time.  

The man then fled the area in what was described as a silver hatchback.

Police were called but the suspect and vehicle weren’t found.

The man returned to the motel at 11:25 a.m. and confronted the female acquaintance, chasing her on foot through the motel.

The woman, 23, ran to a vehicle in the parking lot which was occupied by a 24-year-old man.

The suspect was allegedly seen holding a handgun and threatened to kill the woman.

One round was fired at the female, which hit the front hood of the vehicle while she was sitting in the front passenger seat.  

The female and her associate sped away “in an attempt to escape but were chased by the suspect who had entered a vehicle,” say police.  

The suspect continued to chase the female and her associate “at high rates of speed” for 2 km before he fled the area.

A witness, though, noted the man’s licence plate and gave it to police.

Police were sent to two scenes — the Motel 6 and Mainway and Dillon Rd., where they found the victims’ vehicle.

No one was injured.

Investigators located the suspect and the vehicle in an underground parking garage on Main St. W. in Hamilton at 4:30 p.m.

James Kohne Phixakoune, 28, was arrested without incident and returned to Burlington.

He was held for bail and charged with attempted murder and discharging a firearm.

Investigators found the gun on Wednesday after searching the man’s home and the vehicle he was driving.

Phixakoune has been remanded into custody and will appear next in Milton court on July 14.

Additional charges are expected, say police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Joe Barr of the 3 District criminal investigations bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2385 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222-8477.

Photo courtesy of Halton Regional Police

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