Suspect still at large after St. Catharines homicide
Niagara Regional Police are continuing the search for a suspect considered armed and dangerous after a fatal shooting in St. Catharines, Saturday evening.
NRP spokeswoman Stephanie Sabourin said Monday no further details about the shooting are being released at this time.
Police have not released any information about a suspect or a motive for the shooting.
This remains an active investigation by homicide detectives. At this time, we are not in a position to speak further regarding the motive or release any further information," Sabourin said in an email.
We will release an update as soon as it is appropriate in the investigation."
Police and Niagara Emergency Medical Services paramedics responded to an apartment building at 255 St. Paul St. West at about 9:35 p.m., Saturday where they found a man and woman both suffering from gunshot wounds.
The man, believed to be in his late 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene while the woman was transported to Hamilton General Hospital where she remains in stable, but critical condition with life threatening injuries.
Despite searching the area with the assistance of the canine unit, the suspect remains at large.
The firearm used in the shooting also was not recovered, leading officers to believe the suspect remains armed and dangerous.
Police however, said there is no information to suggest a continued risk to public safety, as officers believe the shooting was a targeted incident.
As paramedics were dispatched Saturday evening, the male victim was described as having been shot multiple times in the head and neck, while the female victim had also been shot in the head.
Neither police nor paramedics confirmed the nature of the gunshot wounds, Monday.
Niagara EMS spokesperson Bryce Brunarski said multiple paramedic crews and supervisors responded in the aftermath of the shooting, and unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate the male patient.
Although Ornge air ambulance was initially called in to transport the surviving patient, Brunarski said Niagara paramedics ultimately transported the woman to an out of region hospital.
The shooting is the third homicide in Niagara this year.
A 34-year-old man was found dead at the People's Choice Co-operative Housing on Louth Street on April 10, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
On Feb. 26, a 44-year-old Stoney Creek woman was charged with murder and attempted murder following a crash in Grimsby that police said was caused by one driver deliberately colliding into another vehicle - claiming the life of an 82-year-old woman and injuring a 79-year-old man.
Police investigated six homicides in 2022.
With files by Shane Murphy
Allan Benner is a St. Catharines-based reporter with the Standard. Reach him via email: allan.benner@niagaradailies.com