A man suspected of fatally shooting a woman in Brampton, Ontario, and abducting his one-year-old child was killed in an altercation with police in Niagara Falls, according to Niagara authorities. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Anthony Deschepper, was located at a gas station in the early hours of Wednesday by officers. The Niagara police’s emergency task unit was deployed, and following an interaction with Deschepper, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The police officers involved were unharmed.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has initiated an investigation into the incident, limiting the information that can be disclosed by the police regarding the shooting. SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette stated that Deschepper was shot multiple times by an officer, with a firearm recovered at the scene. The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear.
Deschepper was sought by authorities for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of a woman in a Brampton plaza parking lot. The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Deschepper reportedly fled the scene with his child in the vehicle. An Amber Alert was issued but later canceled after the child was found safe. The exact relationship between the child and the suspect remains unconfirmed.
Const. Mandeep Khatra indicated that the incident was likely related to intimate partner issues. However, the specifics are still under investigation, and the identity of the deceased woman has not been disclosed. After receiving information suggesting Deschepper’s presence in the Niagara Region, police temporarily issued a shelter-in-place order in Crystal Beach.
Niagara police received information indicating Deschepper’s departure from Crystal Beach, leading to his location at the gas station where the fatal altercation occurred. Deschepper was discovered in a different vehicle than the one he initially fled in, and the original vehicle has been recovered. Another individual was found in the vehicle with Deschepper and has been taken into custody, with pending charges. Witnesses or individuals with relevant information are encouraged to reach out to the SIU or provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Niagara. The investigation is actively being pursued by a team of SIU and forensic investigators.