A man who headed a Winnipeg street gang, had a vast criminal past and was known to live a playboy-like lifestyle has been identified as Thompson's third homicide victim of the year.
Bekim Zeneli, 33, "died as a result of gunshot wounds," RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish said Sunday.
RCMP arrested a suspect following the shooting but later released the person without laying charges. Karpish said the Mounties are seeking the public's help in their investigation.
Zeneli was head of LHS -- "loyalty, honour, silence" -- a street gang with ties to the Hells Angels biker gang.
He registered the LHS name as a legitimate company in March 2002 and appointed himself president.
In court he argued he was a concert promoter and the money he made paid for his fast cars and jewelry.
In late 2004, Bekim Zeneli and his brother Mohammed went on trial for more than a dozen offences including cocaine trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy and possessing proceeds of crime.
Police said at the time that the Zeneli brothers were involved in other cases in recent years, including the theft of a police gun and kidnappings.
Both men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six years in prison.
Bekim Zeneli filed a unique legal challenge seeking access to the cash police seized during his 2003 arrest in order to pay his legal fees. Police said it was covered with cocaine residue.
The Crown initially objected but later agreed.
joe.paraskevas@freepress.mb.ca
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