Winnipeg police are investigating the first homicide of 2023 after a 23-year-old woman died following a fire in a West End apartment block.

Officers were called to the fire in the Adanac Apartments building at 741 Sargent Ave. at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responders, who arrived about a half-hour earlier, had taken a woman to hospital in critical condition. She later died, police said.

Police have identified the victim as Star Alicia Thomas of Winnipeg.

Police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon did not provide details on the cause of death, but said it is considered suspicious.

She said homicide investigators are working with the fire service to investigate the circumstances of the blaze.

Thomas had gone missing from the West End in June 2017 when she was a teenager. Winnipeg police located her safe and sound about six weeks later.

Her death occurred three days into 2023, following a year in which there were 53 homicides, Winnipeg’s worst year on record.

“Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to see a homicide occur in the early days of January,” McKinnon said.

The first slaying Winnipeg police investigated in 2022 occurred on Jan. 17; in 2021, a man was killed on New Year’s Day.

Police ask anyone with information on the fire or the victim to call the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

The fire, which was brought under control within the hour, is still under investigation, fire officials said Tuesday. One nearby business owner, who asked not to be named, said fires in the building are common.

“You know how common it is? It doesn’t even spark any concern anymore. You get so used to it,” she said Tuesday.

— with files from Malak Abas

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera

Erik Pindera
Reporter

Erik Pindera reports for the city desk, with a particular focus on crime and justice.

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