Windsor man charged following Essex shooting

By Andy Comber, January 10, 2007 -

Essex Police Service announced the arrest of a Windsor man last week, following an investigation into a shooting incident in Essex on New Year’s Day.

"We have made an arrest," said Essex Police Sergeant Gary Gamberta, speaking of the arrest of 28-year-old Ryan Andrew Durocher of Windsor. Durocher turned himself in to police Jan. 5.

Gamberta said Durocher is currently facing three charges on weapons offences, including careless use of a firearm, weapons dangerous to public peace, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Police allege that Durocher discharged a firearm outside a house on Margaret Brown Crescent in the early morning of Jan. 1, 2007.

Essex resident Mike Menyweathers said it was about 1 p.m. in the afternoon on New Year’s Day when he discovered a hole in a downstairs bathroom door. After further investigation, Menyweathers discovered a spent bullet, which had entered the house through the garage door, traveling through the bathroom wall and door, and the side of an oak cabinet.

"It was just a couple of feet from my daughter's bedroom," said Menyweathers, who immediately alerted Essex police.

A forensic identifications officer with Essex Police Service attended the scene and collected the projectile, which was sent to the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto for ballistics analysis.

Witnesses in the neighbourhood told police that they heard three or more shots around 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, and a vehicle leaving the scene.

The following day, Essex police closed off a section of Walker Road after a firearm was discovered in the McGregor area.

"A gun was recovered," said Sgt. Gamberta, who could not confirm it was connected to the Essex incident, pending the results of forensic testing.

Despite the arrest, police said the investigation is still ongoing and witnesses are still being interviewed.

Provincial court officials said Durocher was in custody awaiting a bail hearing scheduled for Jan. 9.