Slain ex-con out just a week

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This article was published 13/01/2009 (6121 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SHAWN Beauchamp had just a week to savour his freedom after serving three years in Stony Mountain penitentiary when he was shot and killed Sunday morning, a family member says.

The 26-year-old was found at around 2 a.m. near the corner of St. John’s Avenue and Charles Street with a lower-body gunshot wound. He was rushed to hospital, but died from his injuries. Police are investigating his death as a homicide.

Krista Beauchamp said her cousin spent three years in prison for crimes including breaking and entering, and was eager to start a new life and shed his gang ties.

"When he got out, he got a job and wanted to start over and be good and get out of the gang relations, stuff like that," she said.

Krista said she last spoke with Beauchamp the night before he was killed.

"He was going to be coming by and seeing us and stuff," said Krista, who thinks her cousin was heading back from his job with a delivery company at the time of the shooting. "He never made it."

Beauchamp had been living with his aunt on Redwood Avenue since being released from prison. Krista said his 20-year-old brother is "taking it really hard."

The shooting happened the morning after a prison riot at the Stony Mountain prison, prompting his family to fear some connection between the incidents. Krista said she worries Beauchamp may have been "done in" after pledging to get out of gang life.

"When you want to be out of a gang, they don’t want to let you go, because you know their business," she said.

Beauchamp was also the father of a five-year-old daughter, Tyra.

"I hope he’s in a better place," said Tyra’s mother, Ashley Todd, who was no longer involved with Beauchamp at the time of his death.

Anyone with more information about the killing is urged to call police investigators at 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 786-TIPS (8477).

lindsey.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca