Men guilty of fatally shooting 23-year-old

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This article was published 17/08/2022 (1461 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A judge has convicted two men of second-degree murder in the May 2020 shooting death of 23-year-old Nairne Chapais.

Chapais died in hospital after being shot five times outside a home in the 700 block of Selkirk Avenue.

The case against Tyler Jack, 23, and Clarence Scott, 32, was circumstantial and relied heavily on video surveillance footage recorded before and after the killing from multiple locations.

“The reason for the killing is unknown,” Queen’s Bench Justice Joan McKelvey said Tuesday. “However, that does not diminish what occurred and what has substantially been seen through the video surveillance evidence.”

Jack and Scott stood trial charged with first-degree murder, but the available evidence did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was premeditated, McKelvey said.

“There was an intention, either reckless or otherwise, for them to kill, albeit I cannot be certain of the planning and deliberation required for a finding of first-degree murder,” she said.

Court was told Chapais and his killers had gang ties and were involved in the drug trade.

The killing took place three days after shots were fired at Chapais’s home.

Jack and Scott remain in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

Thunder Bay man charged in break-ins

A 33-year-old Thunder Bay man has been charged in a rash of break-ins targeting mostly Winnipeg seniors living complexes.

Investigators allege the suspect was breaking into the complexes, entering the parking garages, smashing vehicle windows and stealing property, Winnipeg police said Monday.

The crime spree, which began in May, involved more than $120,000 of property damage and approximately $12,000 in stolen property. More than 100 people were victimized, police said.

Investigators identified a suspect by reviewing surveillance footage. He was arrested Friday at a home in the 1200 block of Plessis Road.

The suspect has been charged with 83 counts of mischief under $5,000, 23 counts of theft under $5,000, 10 counts of break and enter commit theft, five counts of break and enter commit mischief, fraudulent use of a credit card, robbery and two counts of failing to comply with a release order. He remains in custody.

Fire destroys healing centre

A suspicious fire has destroyed a new family resource centre in Pine Creek First Nation.

Winnipegosis RCMP were called to the BlueSky family wellness centre just after 12:30 a.m. Monday.

No one was hurt, but RCMP say the fire appears suspicious.

Mounties and members of the fire commissioner’s office are investigating.

Chief Derek Nepinak said in a Facebook post that arson is suspected.

“We had started utilizing the space for important healing initiatives in recent weeks,” he wrote.

“It was growing into a healing space for our community.”

The First Nation is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone who provides evidence leading to a conviction.

RCMP ask anyone with information to call the Winnipegosis detachment at 204-656-7003 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.