Initial assessment didn't determine suspect would kill again so quickly, after Lance Cunningham's death
Niagara Regional Police (NRP) are responding to questions concerning their initial assessment that there was no immediate threat to public safety after the October 2nd murder of 47-year old Lance Cunningham of Niagara Falls.
Stephanie Sabourin Corporate Communications Manager for the NRP when reached by the 105.1 River explained:
"The determination of risk to public safety is made on a case by case basis, with the information and evidence that the investigators have at the time of the incident, often with a fluid set of circumstances.
The preliminary information suggested this was a targeted act of violence, directed solely at the victim. Hindsight has proven otherwise, and tragically our initial assessment did not make the determination that the individual was capable of killing again so quickly."
A day after the Niagara Falls murder, Hamilton Police responded to a 9-1-1 call of an unresponsive man with significant injuries consistent with a stabbing.
77-year-old Mario Bilich was transported to hospital, where he later died.
Later that day in the Burlington area, the NRP arrested 30-year-old Sabrina Kauldhar of Toronto.
She has been charged with first degree murder in the Hamilton homicide and second-degree murder in both the Niagara case and an earlier fatality in Toronto.
Sabourin says the NRP will "analyze our current methodology to identify where potential improvements can be made."
She also indicated that detectives have been in close contact with Mr. Cunningham’s family and are ensuring they are apprised of the ongoing investigation.
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