NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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July 6 update:
The investigation into this stabbing incident has been ongoing by 1 District detectives. As a result of that investigation two suspects were identified.
On July 5, 2023, detectives located and arrested two youth males.
A 15-year-old male from Welland has been charged with the Criminal Code offences of:
• Assault with a weapon (skateboard)
• Fail to comply with sentence order
A 14-year-old male from St. Catharines has been charged with the Criminal Code offences of:
• Assault with a weapon (knife)
• Fail to comply with sentence order
The Youth Criminal Justice Act of Canada prohibits the Niagara Region Police Service from releasing the identity of the accused.
Both males were held in custody for a video bail hearing to the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on July 6, 2023.
Detectives would like to thank those members of the public who have come forward with information as it assisted with the investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-0688-4111, option 3, extension 1009511.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
Original May 22 release:
On May 20, 2023 at 5:42 p.m., 1 District – St. Catharines / Thorold uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to a report of a stabbing in St. Catharines.
Officers attended the Pen Centre located at 221 Glendale Ave. They spoke with a 20-year-old male victim suffering from a stab wound. Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) paramedics treated the victim at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital for further care of what is believed to be a minor non life-threatening injury.
The initial investigation determined the victim had been walking in the mall when he was confronted by two males near the food court. After a brief conversation, [it is alleged that] one of the males pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim. The two male suspects ran from scene though the mall. They discarded the knife as they ran. The suspects exited the mall and left the property in an unknown vehicle. The identity of the suspects is unknown.
Suspect 1: Male, white, wearing a black jacket with a yellow cross-body style bag over his right shoulder and under his left arm, a blue or black baseball hat with the circular sticker still affixed to the brim and a white/grey/black graffiti patterned hooded sweater. This suspect was carrying a large paper bag (stabbed the victim).
Suspect 2: Male, white, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a red and white Toronto Raptors logo on the front, grey pants and was carrying a purple graffiti styled skateboard.
Suspect 1 and 2 are believed to be young persons under the age of 18.
Detectives from the 1 District – St. Catharines office of the NRPS have been assigned to the investigation. The scene was processed by detectives from the Forensic Services Unit. Detectives continue to develop suspect information. They have learned the suspects may have been involved in a theft related incident with other youths in the mall prior to this incident. Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have had an interaction with the suspects, witnessed this incident, or have any information to contact them by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009511.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
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