‘I didn’t even get to say goodbye’: vigil for young mother killed in shooting

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This article was published 15/11/2022 (1391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Family of a woman shot to death Saturday shed tears of sorrow and frustration as they pleaded for justice and answers outside the Winnipeg residence where she is believed to have been killed.

Delany Nora Desmarais, 23, was rushed to hospital in critical condition after being found shot in the upper body early Nov. 12 on the 400 block of William Avenue. She was pronounced dead shortly after, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a Monday release.

On Wednesday evening, around 30 people attended a sidewalk vigil in front of 415 William Ave.

While police have not confirmed the exact address marking Winnipeg’s 46th homicide of the year, Diane Desmarais said her daughter was shot and killed inside the residence.

“Somebody in this building should talk and tell the truth,” Desmarais said, choking back tears. “She’s dead and gone, my baby. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to her.”

Desmarais repeatedly called for justice and shouted for the building’s residents to speak with police.

Inside the home, which appeared to be split into multiple apartments, people peeked through the windows but did not answer the pleas. In an upstairs window, one occupant placed a candle.

“I should just go knock it down,” Desmarais said, pointing toward the flame. “I don’t want (candles). All I want is justice for my daughter.”

Delany Desmarais leaves behind four children who, tragically, in time, will be “too young to remember her,” said the woman’s aunt, Nicole Flett.

The young woman was the mother of three daughters and one son, ranging in age from one to five years old.

“The kids are crying, but they don’t understand their mother is not coming back,” Flett said. “They’re too young to remember her. They’re never going to know her.”

Flett described her niece as a “beautiful and bubbly” person, who was always looking to make friends. She grew up in the country, spending much of her time in Duck Bay, a small community on the shore of Lake Winnipegosis, some 440 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

Delany Desmarais left the Dauphin area about a week ago to visit people in Winnipeg. Her outgoing disposition and lack of “street smarts” may have gotten her into trouble in the city, Flett said.

“There are so many questions not answered… It’s not just justice we need, it’s decency. She is a human being. We need to know what happened.”

On Wednesday, family members said they still had not seen the body. Winnipeg police told them it was still being examined but would soon be released, Flett said.

The family plans to transport the remains to Duck Bay and hold a service in the community hall Saturday.

On her Facebook page, Diane Desmarais posted her daughter’s death was the second tragedy to hit the family in the last few years.

“My two loves are in heaven now,” she wrote, also referring to her husband (and Desmarais’ dad) Derek Thompson. Thompson was 41 when he died suddenly Sept. 20, 2015.

Winnipeg police said Wednesday officers are still investigating the slaying and no arrests had yet been made.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

— with files from Kevin Rollason

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca