3 face kidnapping, firearms charges following Wainfleet shooting

Niagara Regional Police are investigating a shooting incident in Wainfleet.

On Tuesday, Feb.28, at 5:19 p.m., Port Colborne officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the area of Concession Road 6 and Wellandport Road.

Officers arrived at a rural residence and found that earlier in the day a male youth had been taken against his will by four suspects and driven to the location of the disturbance call, where the suspects attempted to take a second male youth against his will. The suspects were armed with firearms and knives. At least one shot was fired during the incident. During the altercation, the suspect vehicle became stuck in a ditch, stranding the four suspects in the largely rural area. Nobody at the residence was physically injured.

The initial responding officers arrested one of the suspects near the scene. Additional police from across the region assisted in establishing a perimeter. Officers from the K9 unit and emergency task unit were called to the scene to conduct a search and track for the remaining three suspects. The police requested the assistance of the OPP and one of their helicopters.

Out of an abundance of safety, Wainfleet residents in the area were asked to shelter in place. At about 7 p.m., officers located and arrested two more suspects. Despite an exhaustive 4.5-hour search of the area, the fourth suspect was not found. The shelter in place request for Wainfleet was lifted at about 12:50 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Two 16-year-old males, one from Pelham and one from Niagara Falls, have been jointly charged with kidnapping, use of a firearm during the commission of an offence, attempt to commit an indictable offence (kidnapping), and use of firearm while attempting to commit an offence.

Due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the identity of the two accused parties cannot be disclosed.

A 20-year-old man from St. Catharines has been charged with the same offences.

Due to the associations of all three accused, the identity of the adult male is not being disclosed as it may lead to the identity of the two younger males. All three have been held in custody pending a video bail hearing scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.

In their press release, the police thanked area residents and the Wainfleet community for their patience throughout the incident, and acknowledged and thanked the OPP for their assistance by providing aerial support.

Welland detectives continue to investigate this incident. Investigators believe that this was a targeted incident and there is no continued threat to public safety. Anyone with information is asked to please call (905) 688 – 4111, Option 3, ext. 1009318.

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.