Niagara police investigate 2024 homicide tied to Ryan Wedding’s alleged drug network, still seeking leads from iPhone and SUV evidence.
Police Hunt Clues in 2024 Niagara Falls Homicide
Two years after a shocking 2024 shooting in Niagara Falls, Ontario, investigators are still piecing together the deadly puzzle. The victim, Randy Fader, a 29-year-old father, was gunned down outside his home in what authorities say may be connected to a sprawling criminal network allegedly led by former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding.
Police are racing to unlock Fader’s iPhone and identify additional suspects, hoping it will shed light on a series of unsolved crimes linked to the same organization.
The Shooting and the Suspects
Fader was shot in the head on April 1, 2024, as he stood in his driveway. The gunman, believed to have exited a white Audi Q7 SUV, fled the scene. Fader later died in hospital.
Malik Damion Cunningham, 24, was arrested in Ontario but faces U.S. charges for the killing. Prosecutors allege Cunningham acted under orders from Wedding’s alleged second-in-command, Andrew Clark. Court records suggest Clark communicated via encrypted messages, offering Cunningham $100,000 plus expenses to carry out the “driveway job.”
Investigators also suspect at least one other accomplice and are examining whether the firearm and SUV used in the attack are linked to other crimes.
Evidence Still Locked
Niagara Regional Police Detective-Constable James Prinsen, in a recently released affidavit, emphasized the importance of accessing Fader’s phone. “Once this phone is accessed, additional investigative leads will be generated which will assist in identifying the individuals responsible for Randy Fader’s murder,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Cunningham remains in custody in Canada, challenging extradition to the United States. His lawyer, Jassi Vamadevan, requested further disclosure of police notes, body-cam footage, and CCTV material to strengthen his defence.
International Connections and Alleged Cartel Ties
U.S. authorities allege that Wedding’s network supplied Cunningham with military-style training in Mexico, two Glock handguns, and a green Ford Explorer SUV with Alberta plates. Cunningham was arrested in the vehicle near a funeral in Vaughan, Ontario, two weeks after Fader’s death, with ammunition, phones, and cash inside.
Authorities have not publicly stated why Fader was targeted, but U.S. prosecutors claim he had ties to international drug trafficking. Wedding’s organization reportedly moved 60 tonnes of cocaine annually across North America and used hitmen to eliminate rivals, including a tragic mistaken-identity shooting of an Indian family in Caledon, Ontario.
Ongoing Investigation
Clark, Wedding’s alleged “right-hand man,” became an FBI informant in 2025, aiding authorities in their investigation. Wedding himself was captured in Mexico and extradited to the U.S., where he faces murder and drug-trafficking charges. He has not been formally charged in connection with Fader’s death.
Police continue to unravel the complex network, connecting violent crimes across borders and hoping new leads will emerge from the remaining evidence.
