An officer-involved shooting in Niagara Falls has led to the death of a suspect who police say fatally shot a woman in Brampton and fled in a car with a one-year-old child in the back seat.
In a news release, Niagara Regional Police confirmed 38-year-old Anthony Deschepper was pronounced dead following an interaction with officers at a gas station near Thorold Stone Road and Montrose Road.
Deschepper was previously identified as a suspect in a fatal shooting in Brampton earlier in the day.
Peel police said they were called to the parking lot of a strip mall near Queen Street East and Airport Road in Brampton at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
Officers arrived to find a woman suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police also confirmed Tuesday the suspect in the shooting fled in a black 2024 Nissan Kicks with a Quebec licence plate. At the time, a one-year-old child was in the back seat.
An Amber Alert was subsequently issued but the child was found safe and in good health after she was dropped off with family, police confirmed.
Investigators described the homicide as an intimate partner-related incident.
On Tuesday night, the suspect was still at large and officers urged residents in the areas of Prospect Point and Ridgeway Road to shelter in place, noting concerns that the suspect may be in the vicinity.
At around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Niagara Regional Police confirmed they found the suspect at a gas station in Niagara Falls.
Police said there was an “interaction” with officers at the scene and the man was pronounced dead.
“Due to the officer involved shooting, the Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked their mandate, and no further information can be provided with regards to the circumstances around the shooting,” Niagara police said in a news release.
The SIU is an arms-length agency that is called in to investigate any time an officer is involved in an incident with a civilian that results in death, serious injuries, or allegations of sexual assault.
In an update at the scene on Wednesday morning, the SIU said they believe one officer discharged multiple rounds at the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Niagara police also spoke at Wednesday’s news conference, confirming that the man was tracked to the area after dropping the infant off with family in Niagara Region.
The SIU said the suspect was also travelling with a woman at the time of the interaction with police.
Police said the woman was believed to be the driver of the vehicle, a Chevy, that the two were travelling in.
After the fatal shooting, the woman was arrested and charges are pending, Niagara police noted.
The relationship between the man and woman is not known, according to police.
The SIU said there was a firearm recovered at the scene that belonged to the suspect but investigators said there is no evidence at this time that the man discharged the gun.
They also noted the Nissan Kicks the suspect was initially believed to be driving was recovered, but an exact location was not provided.
SIU investigators remain on scene and are continuing to collect evidence.
A post-mortem examination for the suspect is scheduled for Thursday, the SIU said.
With files from CP24’s Bryann Aguilar
