Niagara Regional Police are searching for three suspects involved in an alleged arson that occurred last week in St. Catharines.
On Monday, police released a video of the incident from Sept. 12 showing two men exiting a matte black or dark grey sedan while a third suspect remained in the vehicle.
The two suspects are seen walking toward Castillo Shawarma, with one carrying a red jerry can of gasoline. They proceeded to set the restaurant on fire before returning to the car and fleeing southwest on Dalhousie Avenue, police said in a press release.
The first suspect, who was carrying the red jerry can, is described as a man with a thin build, standing over six feet tall, with tanned skin, wearing a grey jacket with black sleeves, black pants, black basketball shoes with gray and white soles, and a black mask with a hood, police said.
They describe the second suspect as having a light complexion and a thin build, dressed in a black jacket, black track pants, black running shoes, and also wearing a black mask with a hood on his head.
The driver of the sedan is believed to be a man wearing a light-coloured baseball cap, a long-sleeve black top, black track pants, and flip-flop sandals, police said.
After the fire was set, all three suspects got back into the vehicle and fled southwest on Dalhousie Avenue, police said.
The car was last seen travelling north of Lakeport Road passing in front of Castillo Shawarma, through the intersection of Lakeport Road and Lock Street, police said.
Detectives believe the suspects may have visited a gas station before the incident and are asking businesses to check their surveillance footage from the hours leading up to the event.
They are also seeking to speak with witnesses and motorists who were in the area at the time.
“This appears to be a targeted incident,” the police said.
Anyone with information, video surveillance, or dash cam footage is urged to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009964.
To provide information anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.
