Lack of witnesses hurting gunfire investigations: police
Several incidents this year but even the victims aren’t co-operating: NRP
Alack of co-operation from witnesses is hampering police as they investigate several gun-related incidents this year in a St. Catharines neighbourhood.
Most recently, shots were fired early Nov. 14 at a multi-unit residence near Niagara and Church streets — at least the fourth incident this year involving guns in that part of the city.
No one was wounded, but three people were hurt fleeing the building.
“That particular incident appears to be a targeted incident right now,” said Insp. Shawn Dowd, Niagara Regional Police 1 District commander.
He said “there is a reluctance on some people to come forward in an instance like this. And in this particular case … there are some witnesses we know have not come forward.”
Police believe there was more than one shooter but suspects fled before officers arrived. They said they’ve received no description of the suspects or of a vehicle, if one was used.
The Nov. 14 event is one of several violent or dangerous incidents there this year.
On Oct. 19, a woman near Church and Niagara streets was stabbed and suffered serious injuries following an argument at a multi-unit residence. A 51-year-old man was arrested.
On March 24 police were called to a multi-unit residence near Niagara and Church for reports of men on scene with guns. No injuries were reported and no guns were recovered, but three people were arrested
on drug charges.
On March17, also inside a multi-unit residence near Niagara and Church, a man was shot and taken to hospital in serious condition. Police say they believe there were witnesses, or people who were nearby and have some knowledge of the events, but none have spoke with investigators.
The victim, who lives outside Niagara, suffered a serious injury but is not co-operating with police, who believe it was a targeted shooting.
And two days previous, on March 15, a shooting in the Niagara and Church area left an 18-year-old with a gunshot wound.
Investigators say it also was a targeted incident. No witnesses have come forward and the victim, who is not from Niagara, is refusing to co-operate with investigators.
“We know that’s a problem area,” said Dowd, adding NRP and the City of St. Catharines have applied for provincial funding to install security cameras in that area.
There are already 31 cameras downtown, mostly in the St. Paul Street area, and from April 2019 through the end of March this year they assisted with 2,570 calls for service, including incidents where people were injured with firearms.
Noting several of the incidents were reported at multi-unit residences in that neighbourhood, he said, “some of the people are more transient in nature and move from residence to residence.
“That makes things difficult for the police to keep track of people and particular crimes.”
Asked if problems are centred at one or two buildings, Dowd said “there are a few specific residences that are problematic and that we tend to have a larger police response to on a regular basis.”
He said drugs are “certainly a component of some of the things that affect that area … I’m not saying all those people are bad — some of those people are victims themselves. I’m not painting anybody with that brush.”
There is an “increased level of crime” in that neighbourhood, Dowd said.
Whether any of the firearm incidents are related, “until we can have more people come forward and link them, I can’t confirm that connection. But they are certainly similar in nature.”