A 30-year-old man previously suspected of stabbing a 56-year-old man in downtown St. Catharines over the weekend now faces an upgraded charge of second-degree murder after the victim succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
The victim has been identified as Victor Clayton, a resident of St. Catharines. Niagara Regional Police stated that, following the victim’s death, homicide detectives have taken over the investigation.
Earlier this week, police named Rohan Chandler, who is of no fixed address, as the suspect in the stabbing. Chandler is now wanted for second-degree murder and for violating the terms of his probation.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Chandler’s whereabouts or the incident to contact them at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009475. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or visiting CrimeStoppersNiagara.ca.
This marks the third homicide in Niagara this year. Earlier, on March 24, police responded to gunshots in the area of Carlton Street and Athlone Place in St. Catharines at around 3:40 a.m. Officers found a 30-year-old man inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he later died. The identity of the victim has not been released.
On January 26, another investigation led police to the Greater Niagara General Hospital in Niagara Falls, where a 72-year-old man, Larry Young, was brought in with severe injuries, suspected to be the result of an assault. Young was later transferred to an out-of-region hospital but passed away from his injuries. Police arrested Young’s son, Blair Young, 44, initially charging him with assault before upgrading the charge to second-degree murder.
In addition, the Niagara Regional Police are still investigating the suspicious death of a 67-year-old woman found at a St. Catharines apartment on January 9. Police responded to the Church Street apartment building at 9:30 a.m., where the woman’s body was discovered. The NRP’s forensic services unit was called to the scene, though no charges have been announced in this case.
In 2024, Niagara reached a record high of 15 homicides, highlighting ongoing concerns about violent crime in the region.
