Updated: Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 10:40 a.m.
The man killed in a Beamsville “targeted attack” at least one prior drug-related arrest in Thunder Bay.
This morning Niagara police identified Jay Alexander, 20, the victim of an apparent shooting in a Beamsville residence early Sunday morning.
According to a Thunder Bay Police Service news release, Alexander was arrested in Thunder Bay in 2018 when he was 18 years old. He was charged with “Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking X 2, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000.” (See news release.)
A music news website has previously tentatively identified the deceased man as “Nhs Jay Jay”, a Toronto rapper.
“Popular Toronto Rapper NHS Jay Jay is dead. According to reports Nhs Jay Jay was shot and killed in Downtown Lincoln. Police say officers arrived at Fracchioni Drive and Cachet Court around 12:10 am after people complained of a suspicious person. They reported hearing gunshots and found NHS Jay Jay dead inside an apartment,” said a post on website Jordanthrilla.com, a music website that posts hip hop news.
The site also claims: “NHS Jay Jay’s death has been confirmed by his family.”
Niagara Info has reached out to people connected to the rapper’s music career for comment.
Niagara Regional police refused to confirm if Alexander’s has a criminal background. NRPS spokesperson Const. Jesse Vujasic said: “We cannot speak to past criminal history as to not jeopardize the investigative process.”
A man with the same name and matching age (19 at the time) was reportedly arrested in Durham Region with three others on 42 charges during a traffic stop in February 2020. Niagara Info has not yet been able to confirm if this is the same person. (More info.)
Meanwhile, fear in the community is mounting after the killing. A Beamsville resident who lives close to the incident said Tuesday: “We need the police to make a statement. I came home in the dark last night and for the first time since living here, I was nervous. I’ll be using the remote garage door closer whilst I’m still in the car and waiting until the door closes before getting out. That’s how nervous I am.”
Here is what happened early Sunday: Alexander was found dead in a Beamsville neighborhood by police early Sunday at around 12:10 a.m. after reports of gunfire in the area. Niagara police said the man’s death was a result of a “targeted attack”.
Police were responding to a call about “a suspicious person”. Homicide detectives have since been canvassing the neighbourhood seeking home surveillance footage and dashcam footage from late-night drivers that may have been in the area at the time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives with the Homicide Unit at 905-688-4111, dial option 3, badge #9132.
“Anyone who may have been in the area with dash cams and residents with video surveillance are asked to review their video footage and contact detectives or Crimestoppers if they observe anything suspicious,” the NRPS bulletin says.
Read more: Lincoln mayor says Beamsville is still safe after apparent murder
This is a breaking story and will be updated.