Niagara police reported on Wednesday morning that a suspect involved in a fatal shooting in Brampton, Ont., and subsequent child abduction is deceased following an encounter with officers. The individual, identified as 38-year-old Anthony Deschepper, was located in a vehicle at a gas station near Thorold Stone and Montrose roads in Niagara Falls around 2:30 a.m., according to authorities.
After the discovery, Niagara police’s emergency task unit intervened, and following an interaction with law enforcement, Deschepper was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers sustained injuries during the incident, and law enforcement officials are currently present at the location.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of Ontario, responsible for examining cases involving police conduct, has initiated an investigation into the matter. Due to the ongoing SIU probe, detailed information regarding the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting cannot be disclosed by the police at this time.
According to SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette, Deschepper was shot multiple times by a single officer. While the exact reasons behind the shooting remain unclear, a firearm was recovered at the scene, Denette mentioned.
The search for Deschepper began after a fatal shooting in a Brampton plaza parking lot, where a woman was killed shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Police indicated that Deschepper fled the site in a vehicle with his child in the backseat.
Although an Amber Alert was briefly issued on Tuesday evening, the child was located unharmed later that day. Authorities suggested that the child had been left with family members, although the exact relationship remains unconfirmed.
Const. Mandeep Khatra stated that the incident was believed to be connected to intimate partner issues but emphasized that the details were still under investigation by law enforcement. The identity and age of the deceased woman have not been disclosed by the police.
On Tuesday, investigators had reason to believe that Deschepper was in the Niagara Region. A temporary shelter-in-place order was issued in Crystal Beach but has since been lifted.
Niagara police received information late on Tuesday indicating that Deschepper had departed from Crystal Beach. Authorities then traced him to the gas station where the fatal encounter occurred.
Deschepper was found in a Chevrolet on Wednesday, a different vehicle from the Nissan he reportedly used to flee after the initial shooting. The Nissan has been recovered by the police.
A woman was discovered in the Chevrolet alongside Deschepper and has been taken into custody with pending charges. Her connection to Deschepper remains unknown, as stated by Const. Richard Hingley.
Individuals with relevant information are urged to contact the SIU or provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Niagara. A team of five SIU investigators and two forensic specialists has been assigned to the case, according to an official statement.
