Second suspect charged in St. Catharines assault investigation

Niagara police have identified and charged a second suspect in what is being investigated as a potential hate-motivated assault in St. Catharines.

Detectives have identified the accused man as William Rider of St Catharines.

Officers have charged Rider with aggravated assault. He remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing on Wednesday at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St Catharines.

On Saturday at around 8:50 p.m., police were called to the area of St. Paul and Bond streets in St. Catharines for a report of an assault.

Officers arrived on scene to find a 25-year-old Welland man suffering from serious injuries. The man was transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.

WATCH MORE: Niagara police investigate possible hate motive in St. Catharines assault

Carson, the victim in the attack, is part of the LGBTQ+ community in St. Catharines. His mother, Lisa McCoy, told CHCH News that he was ambushed while on a night out with friends.

Investigators say the incident happened after a verbal altercation turned physical.

Forty-one-year-old Samantha Jacobs of St. Catharines was arrested at the scene. She has been charged with assault causing bodily harm.

Detectives are looking into whether the incident may be hate motivated. Pride Niagara believes it was.

“From the community it’s just outrage and shock. I think it’s so clear if you see any of the footage. You can have a disagreement with someone, but when you take it that next step to actually physically assault someone to the point where you’re leaving them unconscious on the street, that’s hate,” says Enzo De Divitiis, Pride Niagara chair.

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