Teen in serious condition after west Mountain shooting

A teenager was rushed tohospital Thursday afternoon after a shooting on the west Mountain.

Hamilton police say the incident happened at680 Stone Church Road West, near upper Paradise Road, shortly after 1 p.m.

When police got there, they found a lone teenager suffering from a gunshot wound to his arm. He was taken to hospital with a serious, but non-life threatening injury.

Hamilton police spokesperson Const. Jerome Stewart could not divulge much information about what led to the shooting Thursday evening, and said it is very early in the investigation.

So far, police have received "varying" levels of cooperation from witnesses and people involved, Stewart said.

"We know there are people out there with information. We need them to come forward," he said.

Stewart could not say if the incident was targeted, or if the victim was known to police.

No arrests have been announced.

This is the 16th shooting incident so far in Hamilton this year. Stewart said police understand the impact gun violence has on the community.

"This is unacceptable," he said.

Officers from a new police task force that's investigating gun violence and drug trafficking in the city say the recent surge in shootings in the city is connected to the rise of thedeadly opioid fentanyl.