Canada-wide hunt for Ontario murder suspect leads police to Mississauga car fire

Police believe a man suspected in the carjacking/hit-and-run death of an 82-year-old man in the Niagara area nine days ago made his way to Mississauga where he allegedly set the stolen vehicle on fire late this week before fleeing once again.

Davy Rocchetti, 50, of no fixed address, is being hunted by police on a Canada-wide second-degree murder warrant in connection with the July 17 murder of Larry Pearce, a St. Catharines man who was killed as he visited a park in Lincoln, some 20 kilometres west of St. Catharines.

In an update late Friday, Niagara Regional Police said Pearce’s grey Honda CRV was found Thursday night just off the QEW in Mississauga’s west end after Peel Regional Police responded to a vehicle fire shortly before 9 p.m.

The CRV was found ablaze near 1875 North Sheridan Way, a short distance east of Erin Mills Parkway and steps north of the busy highway.

UPDATE 5 – Police Investigating Incident at Charles Daley Park in Lincolnhttps://t.co/7CMlrjoK0Q pic.twitter.com/smBJtnqVNH

— NRPS (@NiagRegPolice) July 25, 2025

Investigators quickly confirmed the vehicle was the Honda CRV registered to Pearce, who was struck down by his own vehicle as he tried to stop a man from stealing it one week earlier on the morning of July 17.

Niagara police said further investigation revealed the vehicle had entered a North Sheridan Way/Springbank Road area green space at around 8:20 p.m. before being intentionally set on fire.

“A lone individual was seen walking away from the area shortly thereafter,” investigators said, adding they’re now reaching out to Mississauga residents and others who were in that area on Thursday night in hopes of collecting leads.

Police said Rocchetti had a dog with him, described as a pit bull, in the days following the murder in Lincoln. However, in their latest update, investigators noted they no longer believe the dog to be with the suspect — although “that may change as the investigation continues,” they added.

Niagara police say they want to hear from any residents in the area of North Sheridan Way, Springbank Road and Sevenoaks Drive who may have seen or heard anything suspicious between 8:10 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, or who may have relevant surveillance or dashcam footage.

Investigators also urge anyone who spots the wanted man to call 911 right away, and do not approach him.

Anyone with other information is asked to call police at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009450, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Rocchetti is also wanted on outstanding warrants for unrelated matters, police said, including mischief under $5,000, theft under $5,000, three counts of operation while prohibited and failing to comply with probation.

Police also believe he was spotted in another area of Mississauga earlier this past week.

They say the wanted man was seen driving the victim’s Honda CRV in the 1900 block of Dundas Street West on Tuesday morning around 10 a.m.

Pearce, 82, was at Charles Daley Park steps north of the QEW and on the shores of Lake Ontario at about 9:45 a.m. on July 17 when he was confronted by a man.

Investigators believe Pearce had initially arrived at the park alone around 9 a.m. and stayed for roughly 40 minutes before returning to his vehicle.

As he started to leave the area in his CRV, Pearce came across a man near the front entrance and moments later stepped out of his vehicle, police said.

The man then jumped into Pearce’s car and started to leave.

“Mr. Pearce stood in front of the vehicle in an attempt to prevent the suspect from fleeing. During this confrontation, he fell to the ground, and the suspect fled the area in his vehicle,” police said in an earlier news release.

Pearce was found a short time later and rushed to hospital, where he died of his injuries on Friday.