A 25-year-old man is facing multiple charges after police say an elderly woman and her son were injured by an armed intruder in their Niagara Falls home.
Police say a 71-year-old woman was confronted Wednesday night in her home by a man disguised with a balaclava, who struck her with a metal bar, causing her to fall down a set of stairs.
It's alleged that when the woman's 40-year-old son heard the commotion and came to his mother's aid, he was also struck with the bar and fell down the stairs.
Police say the intruder continued to attack the son and also fired a weapon which was later found to be a pellet gun.
The woman escaped from the home and neighbours who heard her cries for help came to her aid and chased the suspect as he ran from the house.
Police say the suspect fired at the neighbours but they continued to chase him, eventually capturing him and holding him for police.
The son suffered multiple wounds and abrasions to his head, and was taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries, while the mother sustained a head wound and abrasions and was treated and released.
Fredrick Collette of Niagara Falls faces charges including break and enter to commit aggravated assault and weapons-related offences.
Police say the suspect is known to the victims and the incident is not considered to be random.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.