A woman has been accused of aiding a murder suspect after being discovered with him following the alleged killing of another woman in Brampton, Ontario, which led to an Amber Alert being issued. The suspect, Anthony Deschepper, aged 38, from Brampton, who reportedly fled the crime scene with his one-year-old daughter, was facing firearm-related charges set for trial next year.
Authorities from Peel Regional Police disclosed that the 36-year-old woman, with links to Brampton and Niagara Falls, was apprehended alongside Deschepper in a vehicle and was identified as either his former or current girlfriend. She was taken into custody at a gas station in Niagara Falls, where Deschepper was fatally shot by a Niagara Regional Police officer.
Deschepper, who was slated for trial on firearm charges arising from a September 30, 2023, incident involving the same woman killed in Brampton, had consistently denied the accusations and was prepared to contest them in court, as confirmed by criminal defense lawyer Andrew Edgar to CBC Toronto.
The charges against Deschepper stemming from the initial incident included possession of a loaded or restricted firearm, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, and two counts of possession of a firearm contrary to an order.
The victim in the Brampton shooting was identified by family members as 29-year-old Savannah Kulla, who tragically lost her life in a plaza parking lot near Queen Street E. and Airport Road on Tuesday afternoon. Deschepper fled the scene with his child in a Nissan Kicks, but the child was later found safe after being left with relatives. Deschepper was subsequently located in a Chevrolet with the woman, leading to a fatal encounter with law enforcement.
Following an interaction with police around 2:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Deschepper was fatally shot and declared deceased at the scene by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit.
In response to the incident, the federal Liberal government announced modifications to the justice system aimed at prolonging the detention of certain offenders, a move long advocated for by victims’ rights advocates, police unions, and some provincial leaders. Despite these changes, advocates point out that more could have been done to safeguard Kulla outside the justice system, given the warning signs.
Rebecca Pacheco, from Embrave Agency to End Violence, expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, describing femicide as an epidemic. She emphasized the need for enhanced community supports and services to address the systemic issue of gender-based violence.
Nneka MacGregor, co-founder of the Women’s Centre for Social Justice, emphasized the preventability of femicide by addressing known risk factors such as tracking individuals with access to firearms and previous police involvement. MacGregor highlighted the increased vulnerability of women in the initial stages of leaving an abusive relationship, emphasizing the importance of early intervention to prevent such tragedies.