Niagara police have reported that a man suspected of shooting and killing a woman in Brampton, Ont., before abducting his one-year-old child is deceased following an “officer-involved shooting.” The suspect, identified as Anthony Deschepper, 38, was located by officers around 2:30 a.m. at a gas station near Thorold Stone and Montrose roads in Niagara Falls. Upon the arrival of the Niagara police’s emergency task unit, Deschepper was pronounced dead at the scene after an interaction with officers. No officers sustained injuries during the incident.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has initiated an investigation into the matter, prompting a limitation on further details provided by the police regarding the circumstances surrounding the officer-involved shooting. According to SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette, Deschepper was shot multiple times by a single officer. Although the reason for the shooting remains unclear, a firearm was recovered at the scene.
Deschepper was being sought in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman at a Brampton plaza parking lot on Tuesday afternoon. Following the incident, he allegedly fled the scene with his child in the back seat of a vehicle. An Amber Alert was briefly issued later that day, but the child was found safe, and it was believed she had been returned to family members.
Const. Mandeep Khatra stated that the incident was likely related to intimate partner violence, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events. The identity and age of the deceased woman have not been disclosed by the police. Authorities had reason to believe that Deschepper was in the Niagara Region, prompting a temporary shelter in place order in Crystal Beach, which has since been lifted.
Niagara police received information late on Tuesday indicating that Deschepper had left Crystal Beach, leading to his location at the gas station where the fatal encounter occurred. Deschepper was found in a Chevrolet on Wednesday, a different vehicle than the one he allegedly used to flee after the initial shooting. A woman found in the vehicle with Deschepper has been arrested, and charges are pending, although her connection to Deschepper remains unclear.
Individuals with any information related to the incident are urged to contact the SIU or provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Niagara. The investigation is being handled by five SIU investigators and two forensic investigators, as per the official statement released by the authorities.