Christopher “El Plaga” Lucas guilty of murder in shooting deaths of Christine Crooks, 18, and Juliana Pannunzio, 20<\/p>\n
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Published Jan 18, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Toronto rapper Christopher \u201cEl Plaga\u201d Lucas<\/a> is now done and dusted.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Cops did their job, the jury did their job, and prosecutors did their job. All we can pray for now is that this psycho never again sees the light of day.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That is probably wishful thinking, but without hope, there is nothing.<\/p>\n Why were women killed?<\/p>\n A Welland jury convicted the thug of two counts of second-degree murder Saturday after three days of deliberation in the cold-hearted murders of two young women at a Fort Erie birthday bash in 2021.<\/p>\n After weeks of testimony and delays, many of the blanks in the senseless double murder of Christine Crooks, 18, of Toronto, and Juliana Pannunzio, 20, of Windsor,<\/a> have been filled in.<\/p>\n All but the most important question: Why?<\/p>\n On Jan. 19, 2021, during yet another COVID lockdown, a group of people gathered at a notorious party house in Fort Erie<\/a> along the Niagara Parkway for a birthday bash. In the early morning hours, the sound of gunshots rang out.<\/p>\n Dead inside were Christine Crooks and Juliana Pannunzio. Every single guest fled the scene.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Under house arrest<\/p>\n No one called 911. No one did anything to help the mortally wounded young women. They did nothing, then every one of them seemingly caught a terrible case of amnesia. Somehow, no one heard the multiple gunshots or cries of anguish.<\/p>\n Did we mention that at the time of the murders, Lucas was on probation and under house arrest?<\/p>\n One person who attended the bash summed up the ethos: \u201cThe only thing lower than a snitch was a pedophile or a child murderer.\u201d<\/p>\n But cops soon zeroed in on Lucas, a young man known in rap circles as a \u201chothead\u201d and \u201cpsychopath.\u201d He did not testify in his own defence and had pleaded not guilty. Now, he is facing a life sentence.<\/p>\n No emotion<\/p>\n Nine jurors recommended that Lucas serve 25 years in the slammer before being allowed to apply for parole; the other three offered none. He should probably never be released.<\/p>\n El Plaga showed no emotion when the bad news was delivered, according to media reports. Perhaps his interpretation of decades in the slammer is different than mine. His legal eagles had argued that it was birthday boy, Trevor Barnett who was the real killer.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Jurors didn\u2019t buy the courtroom gambit.<\/p>\n While much of the timeline has now been filled in, again, the only question remaining is why? The two young women were, according to cops, completely innocent. There was the vague suggestion that El Plaga came unravelled when Crooks drank some of his Champagne from the bottle.<\/p>\n No Champagne shortage<\/p>\n But there was no shortage of Champagne at the party.<\/p>\n When there is a hit involving traditional organized crime, there is a reason for it. Fat Pat Musitano was not taken off the board in 2020<\/a> because gangland rivals didn\u2019t like his shoes or because he dissed a fellow mobster on social media.<\/p>\n In Mafia rubouts, there is always a reason. A good one.<\/p>\n The cold-hearted, gutless, and yeah, \u201cpsycho\u201d murders of Christine Crooks and Juliana Pannunzio were over nothing beyond a maniac with a gun looking for what, cred?<\/p>\n Lucas remains in custody and is slated to return to court in February to set a sentencing date.<\/p>\n![\"Christopher](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/avatars-000734942659-1xueza-t500x500-e1762449554317.jpg\"){kind=avatar}
BYE BYE: Christopher El Plaga Lucas,was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder in the Fort Erie Airbnb shootings.Article content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.3.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"Christine](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/erie-e1629997429755.jpg\")
Christine Crooks, 18, of Toronto, left, and Juliana Pannunzio, 20, of Windsor were shot to death at a Fort Erie party house.<\/p>\n![\"opening](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.3.0\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-sun-middaySun.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
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The Fort Erie party palace where two women were murdered in January 2021. BOOKINGS.COM<\/p>\n![\"Niagara](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/niagarahomicidejuly8-e1625758935348.jpg\")
Niagara Regional Police detectives investigating a double murder are looking to identify the two people not wearing masks in this image from a Jan. 19, 2021 Fort Erie house party.<\/p>\n
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