One victim of weekend double shooting dies in hospital

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This article was published 06/11/2023 (702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man out celebrating his 27th birthday instead became Winnipeg’s latest homicide victim.

Lawrence Evan Pruden died in hospital after he and a second man were shot in the St. James neighbourhood early Sunday, city police said Monday.

The second man’s condition has been upgraded to stable from critical.

Police said the double shooting happened on the 1800 block of Portage Avenue at about 1 a.m.

General patrol officers found the injured men when they and the Winnipeg Police Service’s helicopter responded to a report of gunshots.

The homicide unit is investigating.

Pruden’s death marks Winnipeg’s 30th homicide of 2023. It is also at least the ninth fatal shooting this year.

An online fundraising page said the “senseless” killing happened while Pruden, who turned 27 on Saturday, was out for his birthday.

“This doesn’t feel real and everyone is still in shock,” the web page states. “This news has hit everyone like a ton of bricks and we still don’t know much at this point. The police are doing their investigation.”

Pruden had a young son and was helping to raise his nephews and nieces, according to the web page, which was set up by a family friend.

On Sunday, forensic officers worked for hours within a cordon on the north side of Portage Avenue at Parkview Street.

Yellow evidence markers were placed on top of and surrounding a grey car in the middle of Parkview.

The car’s front left side had collided with the driver’s side of a sport utility vehicle that was in a parking lane.

Streaks of what appeared to be blood were visible on an airbag and a passenger side door of the car.

Police are asking anyone with surveillance video or information about the homicide to call detectives at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.