Nicole Dragisic

Nicole Dragisic, a 37-year-old mother of five, was remembered by loved ones as a strong-willed and courageous woman with a heart of gold. Friends recalled her as someone who was always there when needed and who taught others how to stand up for themselves. Though she had faced struggles with drugs and had prior weapons and drug possession charges, she was a beloved daughter, sister, and friend. Her life was cut short in a violent encounter that left her five children, then aged four to 19, without their mother.

In the pre-dawn hours of Monday, October 16, 2017, a loud knock came at the door of the ground-floor apartment on Barton Street East near Lottridge Street in Hamilton, Ontario, where Nicole was staying. She was inside with her boyfriend, Frank DiMillo, and another person. At approximately 3:40 a.m., Nicole went to answer the door. Following a brief interaction in the doorway, multiple gunshots were fired. Nicole was struck by the gunfire. Her boyfriend placed a frantic 911 call, reporting that she had been shot.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene. Paramedics and police attempted to resuscitate Nicole before transporting her to Hamilton General Hospital. Despite their efforts, her injuries were too severe, and she was pronounced dead. Her death marked the seventh homicide in the city of Hamilton that year. Investigators from the Hamilton Police Service immediately classified the shooting as a targeted attack, stating they were confident it was not a random act of violence. They assured the public there was no broader threat, apart from the fact that armed individuals were at large.

The investigation, filed under case number 17746707, began immediately. Witnesses reported seeing two men dressed in dark clothing, one taller than the other, fleeing the area right after the gunshots. Police believe a handgun was used in the killing, though no weapon was ever recovered. Nicole’s boyfriend and the other individual in the apartment cooperated with investigators. While police noted that some of Nicole’s friends and associates also provided information, they have continued to appeal for more help from the public. Key questions remain unanswered: Did Nicole know the men who came to her door? What was said in the moments before she was shot? And why was she targeted?

In the days following the murder, tributes and messages of condolence flooded social media. One friend of over 30 years wrote, "We've had our ups and downs, different choices in life but at the end of the day you were a good hearted person." Another remembered, "I will always remember how you taught me how to stand up for myself when I was younger. I will miss you." Nicole’s sister-in-law started a GoFundMe page to help the grieving family with funeral costs and to provide support for her five children, writing, "We are asking for your thoughts... prayers and donations of anything if you can help."

Years have passed, but the questions surrounding Nicole’s death linger. Her children have grown up without their mother, and her family is still without justice. The identities of the two men who fled the apartment that morning remain unknown to the public, as does the definitive motive for the killing.

As of September 2026, the murder of Nicole Dragisic remains an open and unsolved case with the Hamilton Police Service. Investigators continue to seek information that could finally bring a resolution to her family. Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to contact the Major Crime Unit at 905-546-3829.