A 32-year-old man from Walpole Island First Nation has been formally charged with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred on New Year's Day, confirming the incident as a homicide investigation.
Charges Laid in Fatal New Year's Incident
Court records obtained on Wednesday, January 10, 2026, show that Cody Roegiest of Walpole Island is facing serious charges. He has been charged with second-degree murder, discharging a firearm with intent, and possessing a firearm—specifically a long gun—without a licence. All charges are linked to an event that took place on January 1 on the First Nation territory located near Sarnia and Chatham.
The victim has been identified as Alexander Everette Justin Johnson, a 29-year-old man also from Walpole Island. He was known to friends and family as "Boone."
Police Response and Initial Investigation
The Lambton Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were first called to the scene shortly after 8 a.m. on January 1. Officers responded to a report of a disturbance involving a firearm on Squirrel Island Road. Upon arrival, they found one person with apparent gunshot wounds. That individual, Johnson, was pronounced dead at the scene.
One person was arrested at that time. However, in their initial news release issued late on January 1, Lambton OPP did not identify the accused or the deceased. They also did not explicitly confirm the investigation as a homicide, stating only that they were investigating a death. Police maintained this position earlier this week, declining to release names or confirm the nature of the probe.
The OPP did advise the public of an increased police presence in the area of Squirrel Island Road and Sandys Lane on the day of the incident, noting there was no ongoing threat to public safety.
Court Proceedings and Community Mourning
Roegiest, who court records indicate lives on Squirrel Island Road, made a brief appearance in a Sarnia courtroom by video on Wednesday, January 10. He was remanded into custody, and his case was adjourned to Friday for further proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Walpole Island community is grieving the loss of Alexander Johnson. A community visitation was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Walpole Island sports complex. A funeral service is set for Thursday, January 11, at 1 p.m. at the same location.
His obituary remembers him as a beloved son, father, and avid hunter. He is survived by his parents, Melanie Johnson and Len Pinnance, his young son Kayson, and a wide circle of extended family and friends, including his hunting companions. Tributes on the funeral home's website expressed shock and sadness, with one person recalling "good times at hunt camp" and another writing, "RIP Boone, can't believe you're gone."
This marks the first homicide investigation in Lambton County for 2026. It follows another tragic incident less than a month prior in Lambton Shores, where a woman died and others were injured in an attack at a retirement community.
