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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Residents want violence to stop

By: Melissa Martin

Posted: 01/11/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

IN the heart of the West End, residents gathered Tuesday to call for new strategies to end the violence that has marred the vibrant neighbourhood.

Less than a week after shots were fired on Victor and Simcoe streets, about 40 people turned out to a community safety meeting at Wellington Community School. The spot was only steps away from where 22-year-old Darren George was gunned down on Dec. 7 in what was the city's 38th homicide of 2011.

Even as organizers asked the media to turn their cameras away from the crowd, citing some residents' fear of reprisals, police and government leaders stood up to deliver a unified message: don't stay silent.

"Please promise me that if you know a house where drug activity is taking place, you will call and report it," provincial Justice Minister Andrew Swan said, touting the 10-year-old Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, which allows the province to toss tenants suspected of illegal activities.

The minister admitted he is sometimes frustrated when media reports following a crime reveal neighbours knew a house was a gang hangout.

It was a message echoed by Coun. Harvey Smith, who stood to promote Crime Stoppers; by residents who called for the creation of an online hub of safety information and hotlines; and by police, who said they understood why some residents hesitate to call police.

"I understand if you're a little scared of what's going on," said police spokesman Don Murray, who works in the area's community support police unit. "But one of our major problems we have is people don't want to get involved... it's important for people to phone and let us know what's going on."

One thing thats lacking, residents said, is recreation for the area's children. After Sean Hogan spoke to call for a return of youth programming at Orioles Community Centre -- the Daniel McIntyre area's only community club -- the room broke out into applause.

"I thought (the meeting) was good, but I've heard a lot of this stuff before," Hogan said. "Some of these problems are long-term, systemic issues. But some of them are, like, change the light bulb already."

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Suspects sought

POLICE are closing in on suspects in the shootings that recently struck the West End, one officer told about 40 West End residents at the Daniel McIntyre community safety meeting on Tuesday.

Though details are still under wraps as part of the investigation, Don Murray said "suspects have been identified in all incidents," including the Dec. 7 slaying of Darren George and shootings on Victor Street on Jan. 4 and Simcoe Street on Jan. 5. One arrest has been made.

Police had previously announced that Chance Moses Guimond, 19, and Cody Joseph Kakeeway, 18, were wanted following the shooting that killed George.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 11, 2012 A4

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