BRAMPTON/FORT ERIE, Ontario — A one-year-old child at the center of an AMBER Alert has been safely located, but police are urgently searching for a suspect wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Brampton earlier Tuesday.
The alert, issued just before 5 p.m., prompted widespread concern across Ontario. Authorities later confirmed that the missing child had been dropped off safely with family members and was unharmed. The case, however, remains active as police intensify efforts to locate 38-year-old Anthony Deschepper, who is considered armed and dangerous.
According to Peel Regional Police, the AMBER Alert is directly linked to a homicide investigation in a parking lot near Airport Road and Queen Street East in Brampton. A woman was found fatally shot at the scene, and investigators believe the crime stemmed from an incident of intimate partner violence. Authorities have not released the victim’s name pending next-of-kin notification.
Police say Deschepper was last seen driving a black 2024 Nissan Kicks with Quebec license plate FRV4520. He is described as a white male, standing 5’9” tall and weighing around 175 pounds, with brown hair and a clean-shaven face. He was reportedly wearing a blue hoodie and blue jeans, and carrying a black crossbody bag.
The Niagara Regional Police Service has advised residents in Fort Erie to shelter in place, particularly near Prospect Point and Ridgeway Road, where Deschepper is believed to have been spotted. Residents are urged to lock doors and windows and to avoid answering the door for unknown individuals as the search continues. Multiple police agencies, including tactical and canine units, are coordinating efforts to locate the suspect.
Authorities are urging anyone who sees Anthony Deschepper or his vehicle to call 911 immediately and avoid approaching him. “Public safety remains our top priority,” said Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah. “We are doing everything possible to bring this situation to a safe resolution.” The investigation remains ongoing, and updates will be provided as law enforcement continues its pursuit of the suspect and works to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this tragic case.