Police seize semi-automatic rifle linked to Holly Avenue shooting

Hamilton police have released a photo of a gun they say was seized as part of an investigation into a shooting that sent a man to hospital with life-threatening injuries earlier this week.

"This is one of two firearms that have been seized as evidence as part of the ongoing investigation into the shooting on Holly Avenue in Hamilton recently," Const. Steve Welton wrote in a Facebook post.

"Criminals that illegally obtain and use these kinds of firearms in crimes are dangerous and clearly do not care about our community."

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Welton did not say if police believe this specific gun was the one used during the incident.

The gun is a Beretta CX4 Storm, which is legal to own in Canada if you have a firearms license.

Its sale price online is just under $1,300. The gun is described as "cold-hammer forged," with a "chrome lined 19-inch barrel for unparalleled accuracy," and "adjustable front and rear aperture sights." It also has a mount for tactical lighting devices.

The CX4 Storm weighs just under six pounds, and uses 9 mm ammo.

Two teens, aged 15 and 18, were arrested at the scene of the shooting, which took place during a home invasion in a northeast home Tuesday morning. They are facing a host of charges, including aggravated assault, breaking and entering and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

During the police services board meeting yesterday, Chief Eric Girt said that the guns in Hamilton being used for crime are predominantly handguns with some long arms as well.

"The bulk of the guns that make their way into this community in Hamilton are largely from Ohio," he said.

He said the service and provincial partners are tracing any guns they come across in their investigations.

Police are investigating 13 shootings in Hamilton this year alone, but investigators say they have all been "targeted attacks."

And "one of the central themes to most of the shootings has been the drug subculture," said Supt. Ryan Diodati, head of the Hamilton Police Service Investigative Services Division.