Suspects in Death of Rookie Officer Charged With First-Degree Murder

Male suspect allegedly on bail for previous assault of police officer

Ontario Provincial Police Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala is shown in this undated handout photo. (The Canadian Press/HO, OPP)

Police announced that two suspects have been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Constable Grzegorz “Greg” Pierzchala.

Pierzchala was killed while on duty on Dec. 27 near Hagersville, Ontario, after responding to a call about a vehicle in a ditch just after 2:30 p.m.

Two suspects, Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry, 30, and Randall McKenzie, 25, allegedly shot the rookie constable as he approached the vehicle on a routine call. He was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries but could not be saved.

Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry (L) and Randall McKenzie were arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ontario Provincial Police Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala, on Dec. 27, 2022. (Courtesy of Ontario Provincial Police)

Police said both suspects were seen fleeing the scene in a vehicle after the police officer was shot. A large manhunt was launched by police before the two were apprehended by law enforcement on the evening of Dec. 27.

Court records indicate the male suspect charged in the death of Pierzchala was released on bail six months ago, on June 27, after assaulting a police officer and being in possession of a handgun. The suspect spent six months in jail after being arrested by Hamilton police.

The suspect, with no fixed address at the time, was first arrested on Dec. 1, 2021, according to the Hamilton Record, and charged with a dozen criminal offences including assault with a weapon, assaulting a peace officer, assault, possession of a firearm without a licence, carrying a concealed weapon, mischief, and possession of counterfeit money. Three people were assaulted in the incident.

McKenzie was already prohibited from having a firearm in two previous court orders, dated Jan 10, 2018, and March 23, 2016.

The gun involved was a handgun with its serial number removed, and McKenzie was under a pair of weapons bans imposed by judges in 2016 and 2018, the documents say.

Stewart-Sperry was featured in 2020 on the “wanted” section of the Niagara police website for failure to comply with a release order.

Pierzchala, a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, had just completed his 10-month probation and was on his first solo patrol. He was a former competitive wrestler and athlete who participated in soccer, track and field, rowing, swimming, and weight training.

The suspects appeared in court on Dec. 28 and were remanded back into custody, with the next scheduled bail hearing on Jan. 17. Both were told they cannot communicate with each other, with potential witnesses, or with the family of the killed officer.

Pierzchala is the fifth Ontario police officer killed on duty since September.