On Feb. 1st, 2023, at 1:36 p.m. the Niagara Regional Police Service communications unit received a telephone call indicating a shooting had just occurred at a residential address on Linwell Road between Ontario Street and Lakeport Road, in St. Catharines.
Information provided was that an individual had been shot multiple times and the suspect was still on-scene. Police responded along with the emergency task unit, canine, and crisis negotiators. Paramedics also went to the Linwell address, given the reported injuries.
When police arrived they quickly concluded no shooting occurred, and that it was what police call a swatting incident. The NRPS news release describes swatting as a "deliberate and malicious criminal act that adds unnecessary risk to both our community members and first responders. For those unfamiliar with swatting, the objective is to direct substantial emergency services resources upon an unsuspecting community member by dialing 911 and reporting an extreme act of violence."
The call remains under investigation by detectives assigned to the St. Catharines criminal investigative branch, supported by detectives assigned to the police cybercrime unit.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead detective by dialing 905-688-4111, option 3, 1009495.
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 that leads to an arrest.
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