It was a routine morning in Port Colborne—schools in session, neighbours going about their business—until Wednesday when police converged on a quiet street in an unfolding emergency. The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) had responded to what was reported as a weapons incident, and the calm of the neighbourhood gave way to sirens, flashing lights and tense uncertainty. Soon enough, the investigation would morph into something far deeper: the killing of a man known and trusted in the community.
As officers arrived and residents were told to stay inside and secure their homes, a heavy-duty response unfolded: multiple emergency vehicles, armed officers and a sense of something wrong that only escalated. Schools were placed on hold-and-secure, parents were alerted and the shock of the event rippled through the town. Witnesses described the scene as “unsettling and surreal.” It wasn’t until the evening that authorities confirmed the victim’s identity: 42-year-old Mark Pero, a local man from Port Colborne whose sudden death would leave a hole in the community.
Shortly thereafter, the situation took a sharper turn. Investigators announced that the incident was no longer just a weapons complaint but a suspected homicide. They say early evidence pointed to this being a targeted act—the suspect and the victim knew each other. The suspect was quickly identified as 27-year-old Brady Neff, also from Port Colborne, and he now faces multiple serious charges: second-degree murder, domestic assault, uttering threats, choking, pointing a firearm, and possession of a firearm.
After several hours of searching, police located and took Neff into custody without further incident. The weapon believed to have been used in the killing was recovered. During a bail hearing in St. Catharines on Thursday, Neff appeared in court; his detention status pending trial is yet to be determined. Detectives also revealed that they uncovered evidence of previous incidents involving Neff—though they haven’t released full details of those events.
Across Port Colborne, relief mingles with grief. Neighbours share stories about Mark Pero—quiet, well-known, part of the fabric of the community—and now the shock of his sudden loss is being felt in homes, schools and workplaces. Local parents thanked school officials for the quick hold-and-secure measures, but underlying it all is a painful realization: violence happened here, in what many consider a safe small city. “You don’t expect something like this here,” one parent said, speaking of the day. The mood remains heavy.
Investigators are continuing to dig: interviewing witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage, piecing together the timeline of events that led to Mark Pero’s death. While police stress there is no ongoing threat to the public, the emotional after-shock lingers. They’ve asked anyone with information to contact the NRPS or Crime Stoppers of Niagara.
For a tight-knit community like Port Colborne, this is a jolt. It’s a reminder that tragedy can touch any place, any person. As the investigation continues and questions mount, residents are left to mourn Mark Pero, support one another, and hope for answers—and closure—in a case that has shaken them to the core.