The 2021 Hamilton Homicide Victim List is available here
Hamilton police were called to the area of 347 Arvin Avenue, Stoney Creek on February 28th at approximately 7:15pm.
Police said 39-year-old Tyler Pratt of British Columbia was found deceased and a female with ties to Hamilton has been taken to hospital with serious gunshot injuries. HPS said they were originally called to the report of an injured woman in the area.
Police said the 26-year-old woman and Pratt were known to each other, and that they have spoken with the female victim as part of their investigation but have not yet been able to interview her due to the extent of her injuries.
Police have no suspect description but said they are looking for White Land Rover with body damage to it, no arrests have been made at this time.
Update March 5th
Hamilton police have issued warrants for the arrests of Oliver Karafa, 25, and Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, 25. The pair are wanted for first-degree murder and attempted murder. Police said both are from Toronto, but they suspect they have left the area.
Update March 25th
Hamilton Police believe 28-year-old Oliver Karafa and 25-year-old Yun (Lucy) Lu LI boarded a flight from Canada to Eastern Europe approximately 24 hours after the murder of Tyler Pratt and the attempted murder of the second victim.
Police said they believe that Karafa and Li are aware that they are wanted in relation to the incident and are actively evading police.
Update June 14th
Investigators in Hamilton and abroad worked together resulting in the arrest of Karafa and Li in Budapest, Hungary, where they are currently being held in custody. Police said the formal process to extradite the accused to Canada is underway.
Update July 13th
Investigators flew to Hungary and returned to Canada with Yun (Lucy) Lu Li on Monday, July 12, 2021. Karafa continues to fight the extradition process.
CHCH reported Ontario Supreme Court Justice Andrew Goodman said the bail plan presented for Li was one of the most robust he had ever seen. Li’s Mother her main surety, pledged $2 million for bail. Two family friends, who will also be Li’s sureties, pledged $500,000 and $200,000. Her conditions include: Li must remain in her home in North York 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She is required to wear a GPS tracking device on her ankle and cannot have any visitors other than her immediate family. She is allowed to leave her house arrest for appointments, she cant use the internet without being supervised.
On Wednesday, March 30, 2022, investigators escorted Oliver Karafa from Budapest, Hungary to Hamilton, Ontario.
Update: On May 29, 2023, Li was arrested for Breach of a Court Order x2. An investigation conducted by the Hamilton Police Service Homicide Unit revealed that on May 22, 2023, Li failed to comply with distinct conditions of her release which resulted in her arrest. She will be held pending a bail hearing.
Update May 24th 2024: The jury has found Oliver Karafa and Lucy Li guilty of first-degree murder of Tyler Pratt and attempted murder of his partner Jordyn Romano. First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years. They also received 15 years for their attempted murder convictions, which will run concurrently with their murder sentences.
Superior Court Justice Harrison Arrell said Karafa and Li’s actions were “the most heinous crimes of violence” Arrell also added that Pratt and Romano were unarmed, unsuspecting victims.