31-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in Windsor homicide investigation

Charges have been laid in Windsor’s first homicide investigation of the year.

Windsor police officers have charged a 31-year-old-man with first-degree murder after launching a homicide investigation Wednesday morning.

Officers responded to the parking lot of Windsor Regional Hospital’s Metropolitan Campus after a 44-year-old man was found unresponsive in the parking lot shortly after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. Despite lifesaving efforts, police say the victim was pronounced dead.

This is the first reported homicide in Windsor in 2026.

A preliminary investigation by the Windsor Police Major Crimes Unit determined that the victim had sustained a fatal injury just before being taken to the hospital and left outside the facility.

Officers identified a suspect and tracked him to a residence in the 9200 block of Broderick Road in LaSalle. Shortly before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, the Emergency Services Unit (ESU) executed a warrant at the house and took the suspect into custody without incident.

Brandon Gerald Leigh, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Investigators have determined that the suspect and victim were known to one another, and the incident is believed to be isolated.

This remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 4830. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.catchcrooks.com.