Juliana Pannunzio, 20, of Windsor-Essex was fatally shot in Fort Erie on January 19, 2021. (Photo via GoFundMe)Juliana Pannunzio, 20, of Windsor-Essex was fatally shot in Fort Erie on January 19, 2021. (Photo via GoFundMe)
Windsor

Scarborough man charged in murder of Windsor woman

Seven months after she was murdered at a party, a suspect has been charged in the death of a Windsor woman.

Niagara Regional Police announced Thursday that they have arrested a suspect in the murders of Juliana Pannunzio, 20, of Windsor and Christine Crooks, 18, of Toronto.

Christopher Lucas, 22, of Scarborough is charged with two counts of First Degree Murder. Police say he appeared in court Thursday in St. Catherines.

On January 19, police responded to reports of gunshots fired at a home in Fort Erie. When they arrived, they found the bodies of Juliana Pannunzio and Christine Crooks. The two women were part of a group of people who were at a short-term rental property for a party.

“The Niagara Regional Police Service would like to thank the Pannunzio and Crooks families for their patience and understanding during this lengthy investigation,” police said in a statement.

According to police, Lucas was arrested with the help of six regional police services, including Toronto police and the OPP.

The investigation is ongoing but no further information is being released at this time.

 - with files from Adelle Loiselle 

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