On Friday, July 11, 2025, at approximately 12:20 p.m. uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) assigned to 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) responded to an apartment in the area of Ontario Street and St. Paul Street for a shooting call.
The initial investigation determined that a female in one apartment had been unintentionally shot by unknown individuals in a neighbouring apartment. Uniform members attended and performed first aid on the injured individual ensuring their safety as they were removed from the apartment and transferred to an out of region hospital by Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS).
Uniform members then contained the unit that the suspected gun shot came from while members of the Emergency Task Unit (ETU) and K9 Unit attended. A short time later two individuals were arrested and charged.
On Saturday, July 12, 2025, members of 1 District Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) were granted judicial authorization to execute a search warrant on the accused individual’s apartment where a firearm was recovered.
Andre SMITH, a 38-year-old St. Catharines resident, was arrested and charged with the following criminal offences:
– Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order
– Careless Use of a Firearm
– Discharge a Firearm at a Place in a Reckless Manner
– Possession of a Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a License
– Possession of a Firearm Without Holding a License
– Possess a Loaded Firearm
– Aggravated Assault
Anikkita BECKFORD-STONE, a 20-year-old St. Catharines resident, was arrested and charged with the following criminal offences:
– Careless Use of a Firearm
– Discharge a Firearm at a Place in a Reckless Manner
– Possession of a Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a License
– Possession of a Firearm Without Holding a License
– Possess a Loaded Firearm
– Aggravated Assault
SMITH and BECKFORD-STONE were remanded into custody after attending a bail hearing on Saturday, July 12, 2025, via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-688-4111, dial option 3, extension 1009703.
Members of the community 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 people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.