UPDATE | Police search for Amber Alert suspect in Crystal Beach

Brent Jones
October 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM

UPDATE | OCTOBER 22, 2025 @ 8:53 A.M.: Anthony Deschepper has been shot dead by police. Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit will be investigating.

UPDATE | OCTOBER 21, 2025 @ 10:16 P.M.: Niagara Regional Police issued an update around 9:30 p.m. stating they believe the suspect has left the area. The shelter in place order has been lifted.

ORIGINAL STORY | OCTOBER 21, 2025 @ 8:00 P.M.: Niagara Regional Police are urging residents in Crystal Beach to shelter in place Tuesday night as officers assist Peel Regional Police in the search for a suspect connected to a fatal shooting and Amber Alert earlier in the day.

An Amber Alert was issued around 5 p.m. for a one-year-old girl who was reportedly abducted in Brampton following a deadly shooting at a strip mall near Queen Street East and Airport Road.

Niagara Regional Police are searching the Prospect Point and Ridgeway Road area Tuesday evening for 38-year-old Anthony Deschepper. Credit: Niagara Regional Police Service | Facebook

Peel police later confirmed the child was found safe, but the suspect–38-year-old Anthony Deschepper–remains at large.

CTV News reports that Deschepper allegedly shot and killed a woman before fleeing in a black 2024 Nissan Kicks with Quebec licence plate FRV 4520. The infant, who was in the back seat, was later dropped off safely with family members, police said.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., Niagara Regional Police posted on social media that Deschepper may be in the Prospect Point and Ridgeway Road area of Crystal Beach. Officers are currently conducting a search in coordination with Peel police.

Police said residents in the area are asked to shelter in place, lock all windows and doors, and avoid opening doors to unknown persons. Anyone who sees someone matching the suspect’s description is urged not to approach and to call 911 immediately.

Deschepper is described as five-foot-nine, weighing 181 pounds, with brown hair. Police have not released further details about his direction of travel or whether the vehicle has been recovered.

As of 7:30 p.m., the search remained active. Fort Erie Radio observed multiple police units patrolling Ridgeway Road and nearby neighbourhoods. Residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid the area, and follow official updates through Niagara Regional Police and Peel Regional Police channels.

Fort Erie Radio will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as they become available.