A 15-year-old street gang member is among three people charged with first-degree murder in connection with last weekend's triple homicide at an Alexander Avenue home. Justice sources said it's further proof that gangs are using younger members to commit serious crimes to reduce older associates' exposure to punishment.
A police source told the Free Press that the triple murder was a direct result of growing hostilities between the Central and Indian Posse gangs that played out tragically in a home placed squarely in Central's turf in the Weston area.
Corey Keeper, 22, was one of three killed.
Central, a youth-oriented street gang, has no qualms about using young people to do their dirty work, the source said.
"They indoctrinate these kids into the gang lifestyle so young, and they tell them nothing will happen to them (under the Youth Criminal Justice Act). It gets to the point where they will do anything for them -- even kill."
The source said gangs often call it their "mission" to go and kill -- and often the person holding the gun is the youngest.
Veteran Winnipeg lawyer Greg Brodsky -- who has represented more accused killers than any lawyer in Canada -- said he's seen an increasing number of cases where gang members recruit youths to do their bidding.
"It used to be they'd get them to carry their dope. Now they're getting them to carry their guns," he said.
Winnipeg Police Chief Keith McCaskill.
Brodsky said gangsters are well aware of the federal law and its limitations on punishing young offenders, and will deliberately involve teens because of it.
Richard Colton Patchinose, 18, and Russell Howard Roulette, 25, will make their first provincial court appearances in downtown Winnipeg this morning.
Both have retained lawyers through Legal Aid.
Patchinose and Roulette are both associated with the Indian Posse. While Roulette has tribal art on his body, Patchinose bears tattoos of the IP.
However, it appears that neither has a criminal record.
The youth suspect is expected to appear at the Manitoba Youth Centre court this afternoon.
Each faces three charges of first-degree murder and three charges of attempted murder.
The first-degree murder charges indicate that police believe the shooting was planned and deliberate -- it's the most serious charge in the Criminal Code.
Monday afternoon, police released the names of those shot to death at 1398 Alexander Ave.
Scott Lavallee, 31, Jennifer Ward, 26, and Corey Keeper, 22, were allegedly killed by masked shooters who entered the bungalow and opened fire on people at a house party.
Winnipeg police Chief Keith McCaskill said the alleged shooters have known gang connections, but police don't believe the shooting was gang-related, something one police source refuted.
"I'm not sure why it was said this wasn't gang related. It certainly was."
McCaskill refused to comment on any motive for the slayings as the investigation progresses.
"It's really foolish for me to start talking about evidence or circumstances," he said.
There's no reason to believe that people attending the party were doing anything criminal, McCaskill added, but the masked shooters had definitely targetted the home.
"There's no doubt about it they knew the house they were entering, and I don't in any way want to suggest that the victims (at) this house were involved in any criminal activity."
McCaskill added that police were not aware of an imminent threat of gang-retaliation.
"We have a lot of resources on this... As far as the motive, we'll wait to see," he said.
The father of Corey Keeper said his son was on a path to a productive life before it was cut down by gunfire.
Jonas Keeper said his son moved to Winnipeg from Little Grand Rapids last Christmas in order to finish high school.
He described Corey as having a good sense of humour and a head on his shoulders.
"My son was good boy -- he liked to laugh and dance around, singing with music -- that's how I know my son," he said.
He said he'd last spoken to Corey two weeks ago.
The Free Press has also learned there might have been more victims if it weren't for the efforts of a man known only as William.
The source said the man noticed a commotion and pushed three women into the bathroom where they hid during the shooting.
james.turner@freepress.mb.ca
www.mikeoncrime.com
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