Man charged after 2 gun-related incidents in Niagara region

A 28-year-old man is facing multiple charges following a pair of armed robberies, including one attempted robbery, in the Niagara region this month.

Police say the first incident happened on Oct. 20 around 3:30 a.m. at a 24-hour convenience store located on Regional Road 24 near Regional Road 27 in Wainfleet.

Investigators say a lone male suspect allegedly entered the store with a handgun and demanded cigarettes and money.

Officers say the man fired a single gunshot into the ceiling. The store employee was not injured.

The suspect fled the scene before police arrived.

READ MORE: Police search for suspect after Wainfleet convenience store robbed

On Monday, police say a man with a black handgun entered the Enterprise Rent-A-Car location in the area of Lake and Scott streets in St. Catharines around 8:30 a.m. and demanded keys for a vehicle from an employee.

When he was not given the keys, he fled the area on foot. The store employee was not injured during the attempted robbery.

Detectives noticed a car associated with the suspect around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Glendale Avenue and Taylor Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The car was then found abandoned near Cole Crescent.

Investigators soon learned that the suspect had entered a nearby home, where he was later arrested.

READ MORE: Police seek man after attempted armed robbery in St. Catharines

Christian Adam Edmunds of Niagara-on-the-Lake has been charged with six separate offences, including two counts of robbery using a restricted firearm, two counts of point firearm and nine counts of possession of a firearm, weapon or ammunition contrary to prohibition order.

Niagara police say they expect to lay more charges.

Edmunds is scheduled to appear in a St. Catharines courthouse for a video bail hearing Tuesday.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact investigators at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1008393.