Homicide investigators believe 39-year-old Jahmal Thomas was the intended target when a gunman opened fire inside a busy after-hours bar early Sunday, but do not yet know why.

Thomas and 25-year-old Rhonda Homsombath were killed and two men, a 38-year-old and a 29-year-old, were hurt in the shooting around 5 a.m. on March 8 at Urban Lounge, in the basement behind Sam's Tavern on Barton Street East, west of Sherman Avenue North.

All four were transported to hospital by paramedics, where Thomas was pronounced dead. Homsombath succumbed to her injuries around 8 a.m.

Investigators have not been able to establish a relationship between any of the victims.

Earlier that night, Homsombath and the two injured men had been at a celebration of life for murder victim Carel Douse, 33, who was found fatally stabbed on a stranger's East Avenue North porch last May. His birthday is in March. Three men are charged with first-degree murder in that case.

Three of Sunday's shooting victims had been at a private party at Zen Lounge on John Street South. After the bar closed, they moved to Urban Lounge. Thomas did not appear to know the Douse group, said Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk, of the major crime unit.

The after-hours bar was not a private event, with dozens of people in the bar when the gunman opened fire.

"We do not know the motive," Bereziuk said.

Sam's Tavern is licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which says it is reviewing the incident. The city's licensing and bylaw teams are also investigating the tavern, including whether liquor was being served after hours. A city spokesperson said the city has "very few complaints about this establishment on file."

Thomas had an extensive criminal record and was known to police, including for weapons and gang affiliation. At the time of his death, he was on parole and living in a Brantford halfway house. He also has ties to Hamilton.

"There is no evidence this was gang-related," Bereziuk said.

In 2007, a then-26-year-old Thomas took the stand at his friend Tyson Truelove's attempted murder trial, according to an article published by The Spectator at the time.

The 22-year-old Truelove was described in court as a Crips gang member and Thomas as a former Crips gang member.

A 29-year-old man was shot and an innocent bystander hurt when Truelove opened fire inside the Ol' Continental nightclub on Gertrude Street on Dec. 17, 2003.

Thomas, who was serving a three-year sentence for possession of the gun used in the shooting, claimed on the stand that he was responsible for the shooting. Witnesses cannot be incriminated by their testimony, except in a prosecution for perjury. A Superior Court jury did not buy Thomas' story and Truelove was convicted.

Police continued to probe the scene of Sunday's fatal shooting on Monday. Bereziuk noted that the bar is a time-consuming crime scene, because of the volume of evidence that needs to be collected and sorted through, including shell casings.

Despite the bar being busy at the time of the shooting, Bereziuk said only one witness came forward initially. This led police to appeal to the public Sunday for more witnesses to come forward.

Since then, police have heard from more witnesses, but continue to ask anyone with information to contact investigators.

The suspect is described as a Black man with a thin build, five-foot-10 and possibly in his early 30s with short braids. The man was wearing dark jeans or pants and a track suit-style, zip-up jacket.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call Det. Daryl Reid at 905-546-3825.

To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.

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