A suspect who allegedly shot and killed a woman in Brampton, Ont., Tuesday before abducting his one-year-old child is dead after an “officer-involved shooting,” Niagara police said Wednesday morning.
Around 2:30 a.m., officers located the man, 38-year-old Anthony Deschepper, in a vehicle at a gas station near Thorold Stone and Montrose roads in Niagara Falls, police said in a news release.
Niagara police’s emergency task unit became involved, and “following an interaction with officers,” Deschepper was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. No officers were injured, and police are still at the scene.
Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has now invoked its mandate. In light of the SIU investigation, police said they cannot provide more information about the circumstances around the officer-involved shooting.
SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette told reporters Wednesday that Deschepper was shot multiple times by one officer. It’s still unclear what prompted the shooting, but a firearm was found at the scene, she said.
Police were searching for Deschepper in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman in a Brampton plaza parking lot in the area of Queen Street E. and Airport Road shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday. Police said Tuesday that he allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle with his child in the back seat.
WATCH | Police seek suspect after alleged child abduction, fatal shooting:
Police search for suspect linked to cancelled Amber Alert after woman killed in Brampton, Ont.
A one-year-old girl has been found safe following an Amber Alert, but police say the man accused of abducting her is now wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Brampton, Ont.
Police briefly issued an Amber Alert Tuesday evening, but the child was found safe later that day. Police said Tuesday night they believed the child was dropped off to family members, though they told reporters Wednesday they still could not confirm the relation.
Const. Mandeep Khatra told reporters Tuesday they believed it was an “intimate partner-related incident,” but they were still “trying to figure out what exactly transpired.” Police have not yet released the name or age of the woman killed.
Investigators said Tuesday they had reason to believe Deschepper was in the Niagara Region. A shelter in place order was temporarily issued in Crystal Beach Tuesday, but has since been lifted.
Police were looking for 38-year-old Anthony Deschepper in connection with a fatal shooting and alleged child abduction Tuesday. Police said he died early Wednesday morning after an interaction with officers in Niagara Falls. (Peel Regional Police handout)
Const. Richard Hingley said Wednesday that Niagara police received evidence late Tuesday that suggested Deschepper had left Crystal Beach. Police then tracked him to the gas station where he was shot, he said.
Police found Deschepper in a Chevrolet Wednesday, a different vehicle than the Nissan he allegedly fled in after Tuesday’s shooting, Hingley said. That vehicle has been recovered, he said.
A woman was found in the Chevy along with Deschepper, Hingley said. She has been arrested and charges are pending, but her connection to Deschepper is still unclear, he said.
Any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the SIU, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers of Niagara. Five SIU investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case, according to a news release.
