Mike Latschislaw

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City police have a suspect in custody after a daytime stabbing in downtown Winnipeg on Tuesday resulted in the death of a 58-year-old woman.

Officers responded to the 300 block of Portage Avenue after receiving a report about the incident around 2:45 p.m. Arriving officers found Helen Annie Spence suffering from severe and life-threatening injuries, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Thursday.

Spence, a member of Grand Rapids First Nation who had been living in Winnipeg, was transported to the hospital in critical condition where she died of her injuries, the release said.

The suspect fled before officer arrived, but was later identified by investigators from the homicide unit, police said.

Manitoba is living through several emergencies at once.

An HIV public-health emergency. A toxic drug crisis. Rising hepatitis C. Severe housing pressures. Communities asking for help before more people are lost.

In July, leaders from four Island Lake First Nations declared a regional public-health emergency. They described addiction, infection, homelessness and overcrowding converging in communities that do not have enough prevention, treatment or locally led care to meet the need.

These may look like separate problems.