Police say Hamilton's first homicide of the year was related to illegal drug activity.
A 36-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound at an elementary school playground on Wentworth Street North at about 8:20 p.m. on Friday.
Emergency crews transported him to Hamilton General Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The shooting has been linked to "illegal drug activity" at an address that has been the subject of police activity in the past, said Sgt. Ian Matthews of Hamilton police.
"This was not a random act of violence," he wrote in an email to reporters.
The victim has been identified as Michael Swistak of Hamilton. The results of a Saturday autopsy haven't been released yet.
Police have described their key suspect as a light-skinned black male in his 20s. He was reportedly wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, a black jacket, dark pants, dark shoes and a dark baseball cap.
The suspect wore a baseball cap over his white hood, according to police.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Hamilton Police Det. Paul Hamilton at 905-546-3825 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
