‘My mom is falling apart,’ beer vendor homicide victim’s grieving older brother says

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This article was published 17/02/2022 (1349 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

John Emmanuel Barrion keeps expecting his younger brother to burst through the front door of their family’s home at any moment.

Part of him refuses to believe the ritual will never happen again after his 19-year-old sibling, John Lloyd Barrion, died following a robbery at the Winnipeg beer vendor where he worked.

“It hasn’t sunk in that he’s gone,” John Emmanuel Barrion said Thursday. “I just really want justice.”

City police, who are investigating the death as a homicide, haven’t revealed any details about how the Weston man was injured.

He was found inside the vendor at the Travelodge by Wyndham Winnipeg hotel, at 1400 Notre Dame Ave., shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday and later died in hospital.

Details such as the cause of death were still a mystery to his grieving family, who were waiting to find out the results of an autopsy while planning a funeral.

A police officer told them one person has been arrested and others are being sought, said John Emmanuel Barrion.

Police declined to comment.

With dreams of one day becoming a chef, John Lloyd Barrion started working at the vendor four months ago, and recently completed his training and probationary period.

The Tec Voc High School graduate shared his earnings with his parents, who moved the family to Canada from the Philippines when he was less than a year old.

He was the middle of five children — four boys and a girl — and he wanted to support his family as much as he could, his brother said.

“We came here for more opportunities. It’s tragic he had to go. My mom is falling apart,” said John Emmanuel Barrion, 22, who described his brother as thoughtful, diligent and loving.

The siblings shared a bedroom, which John Emmanuel Barrion now occupies alone. He keeps thinking he’s going to turn around at his desk and see his brother sitting there.

They saw each other for the last time as John Lloyd Barrion, who celebrated his birthday last month, was getting ready for work Monday.

His brother reflected on the times they walked home from church with their siblings.

“We used to tell stories to pass the time. I would do anything to relive those countless Sundays again,” said John Emmanuel Barrion.

Tuesday’s incident was captured by at least one surveillance camera inside the vendor.

John Emmanuel Barrion said his brother was robbed by multiple people around closing time, about a month or two after a co-worker was held up. A provincial law requires beer vendors to close at 2:30 a.m.

He was discovered in a corner in a staff-only area behind a protective transparent shield, which has an open space where money can be exchanged.

People close to John Lloyd Barrion were concerned about him working a graveyard shift, including periods where he was alone. He was “neutral” about the job, “loved” his colleagues and enjoyed working close to home, his brother said.

As they wait for updates from police, John Emmanuel Barrion said his family is grateful for the support they’ve received from the community, including 204 Neighbourhood Watch.

The group, which holds regular safety walks, is holding a prayer vigil outside the hotel Saturday at 3 p.m.

Ponz Mapuyan, a spokesman for the organization, prayed with John Lloyd Barrion’s parents at their home Wednesday night. Their sons were close friends.

“He was bubbly and full of dreams. Those dreams were snuffed out of him by whoever took his life,” said Mapuyan. “He was such a good boy and a good son. He did not deserve to be killed.”

Mapuyan said the city’s Filipino community is rallying around the devastated family so they know they are not alone.

“Filipinos or immigrants, in general, have high hopes of finding their dream in Canada. Can you imagine that all of those hopes are doused, and they are starting to question what the future holds for them?” he said. “To the community, I would say we should really care for each other, regardless of culture or religious belief, because we’re all in this together.”

Staff at the hotel declined to comment.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching