St. Catharines shooting sends man to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries

A 39-year-old man is recovering after being shot in the parking lot of a St. Catharines shopping plaza Thursday.

Niagara police say his injuries are non-life-threatening and that suspects fled the scene before officers arrived.

Investigators were called to the plaza near Bunting Road and Carlton Street shortly after 7 a.m.

“We learned that one male was transported to hospital with a single gunshot wound and our detectives are on scene currently investigating,” said Niagara Regional Police Const. Jessica Martin.

In a statement to CHCH News, Niagara Emergency Medical Services initially confirmed, “paramedics responded and assessed an adult male with serious traumatic injuries. The patient was transported in critical condition (CTAS 1) to an out-of-region hospital for further treatment.”

Hours after the shooting officers could be seen focusing their investigation in the parking lot area.

At the centre of the scene was a pick-up truck, it appears blood was on the side of the vehicle and on the ground next to it.

Also seen, several evidence markers as forensic investigators bagged evidence and took photos of the truck’s interior.

Police say the investigation is still in the preliminary phase, and so far have released few details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

That includes what may have led up to the shooting, or whether police are searching for a suspect.

For people who live and work nearby, the shooting has left some feeling uneasy.

Dave Dekker owns a business in the plaza, Herc’s Nutrition, and is a long time resident of the area.

“It was a lot of shock,” said Dekker. “I grew up in this area, my grandmother used to take me here and it was very safe. We used to walk around. The last thing on my mind is to see shootings in the north end of St. Catharines. It’s a quiet area.”

Investigators are still asking for the public’s help.

“Any businesses or residents in the area, if you can review any video surveillance footage – it can help us with our investigation,” said Martin.

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