Barrie man charged with first-degree murder in northern Ontario

A Barrie man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a Kirkland Lake resident last week.

Kirkland Lake OPP, with assistance from Barrie city police, has arrested two people in connection with the ongoing homicide investigation.

Shortly after 10 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, Kirkland Lake OPP officers responded to a shooting on Second Street East in the northern Ontario town.

The victim has been identified as Ernest Renaud, 47, of Kirkland Lake.

Mathew Leiva-Pineda, 21, of Barrie, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Jeffrey Rodrigue, 30, of Dobie, has also been arrested and charged with accessory after the fact (murder).

Both of the accused remain in custody.

None of the allegations have been tested in court. 

The Kirkland Lake OPP crime unit is continuing its investigation under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at nearnorthcrimestoppers.com.