MONTREAL – A man who has been listed among Canada’s top 25 most wanted fugitives, sought for murder and drug trafficking charges originating from Saskatoon, has been apprehended at Montreal's Trudeau International Airport. Jonathan Ouellet-Gendron, 36, was arrested by officers from the Sûreté du Québec Airport Unit, along with the Mascouche Major Crime Investigation Division and the Canada Border Services Agency, on Saturday during his return to Canada.

Ouellet-Gendron first came under police scrutiny in May 2022, when Saskatoon Police Service identified him as a suspect in a homicide that took place in the 700 Block of Melrose Avenue. Following the incident, police released a statement indicating they were looking for the suspect after reports of gunfire and an injured man. At the time of their arrival, officers discovered 29-year-old Brandon Baxandall deceased behind an apartment building.

In connection with Baxandall's murder, Ouellet-Gendron was charged with first-degree murder on May 24, 2022, but he eluded capture until now. He was subsequently added to the Bolo Program, which highlights the top 25 most wanted fugitives in Canada, in May 2023, securing the 10th position on the list. Authorities had warned the public about Ouellet-Gendron, alerting them that he might be armed and should not be approached.

Last year, Mohamed Abdula Ali, implicated in the case, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. The detailed investigation and response from the Saskatoon Police Service were documented in an eight-minute video posted on YouTube. This footage included dashcam video captured from a police cruiser responding to the scene, showing paramedics administering chest compressions on an individual on the ground.

The police arrived with rifles and conducted a thorough search of the apartment building, eventually recovering three firearms within hours of starting the investigation. The YoutTube video shed light on the violent incident and was aimed at raising awareness about the ongoing investigation into the homicide case.

As of now, Ouellet-Gendron is expected to appear at a Montreal courthouse on Sunday. Authorities are likely to proceed with the legal process following his arrest, bringing a significant development in a case that has lingered for over three years.