Two sisters among four dead in West Broadway mass shooting; fifth victim in critical condition By: Chris Kitching and Tyler Searle Posted: 1:51 PM CST Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 Last Modified: 7:12 PM CST Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 Updates

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This article was published 27/11/2023 (1038 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two sisters were among four people killed in a mass shooting at a West Broadway home, police confirmed Monday, as the death toll increased and the hunt for at least one suspect continued.

Crystal Shannon Beardy, 34, and Stephanie Amanda Beardy, 33, were from Lake St. Martin First Nation, about 250 kilometres north of Winnipeg. Two men — Melelek Leseri Lesikel, 29, and Dylan Maxwell Lavallee, 41 — also died in the shooting on Langside Street early Sunday.

A 55-year-old man remained in critical condition in hospital.

“We will do everything that we can to discover why this happened and who was involved,” said Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth, while appealing for tips to help identify a suspect. “This is a dangerous offender, in my view, and we must do everything that we can to identify that person and take them into custody.”

Officers and Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service members were called to the multi-suite residence shortly after 4 a.m. Police wouldn’t say what led up to the incident.

The WPS confirmed Monday the death toll had increased from three to four since their last update. A man and woman died at the scene. Two others died in hospital.

Stephanie Beardy died after being taken off life-support Sunday evening, her cousin wrote on Facebook.

Lesikel had family in Kenya and the U.S., said WPS major crimes Insp. Jennifer McKinnon.

“This is a dangerous offender, in my view, and we must do everything that can to identify that person and take them into custody.”–WPS Chief Danny Smyth

The victims were known to police, who had been to the home following “occasional” calls for service in the last couple years, said Smyth.

A shooting with so many victims is rare and reason to cause fear, shock and concern in the community, he told reporters.

“I also remind people that most of us live in neighbourhoods where we rarely have to deal with violent crime and that hasn’t changed,” he said.

Of Winnipeg’s 38 homicide victims in 2023, at least 14 were shot. Ten were killed this month.

None of Sunday’s victims were tenants of the five-unit building, said Richard Fulham, who has owned the property at 143 Langside St. for 25 years.

“I don’t know the circumstances. It’s horrific, it’s more than upsetting,” he said. “I don’t know how (the suspect or suspects) got into the building. I presume somebody let them in.”

Fulham said the slayings occurred inside the main-floor suite of a long-time tenant who was not home at the time.

“My wife and I were in a state of shock last night, and this morning. We are just kind of getting our minds around it right now. It’s really, really bad,” he said.

Police have increased their presence in the neighbourhood. Forensic investigators are expected to remain on scene for up to a week, said Smyth.

Multiple units, including guns and gangs officers, are assisting homicide detectives. More than 500 “crime guns” have been seized so far this year, the police chief said.

“Firearms are distinct. We’ll be watching for evidence that could link any firearms we come into contact now or in the future with the homicide on Langside,” he said.

The integrated violent offender apprehension unit will be looking for people allegedly in breach of release conditions, given 20 per cent of violent crimes are committed by people on bail or probation.

“We don’t know the suspect in this case, but that work is important as well,” he said.

Mitch Bourbonniere, a community outreach worker and anti-gang activist, said West Broadway is among the neighbourhoods at greater risk of violence and in need of additional supports due to factors such as poverty.

“We need to be more aware of which families are struggling and who’s at risk,” he said. “The answer is village, but the colonial systems are very bureaucratic and actually create hurdles to village.”

Support has been offered to the WPS officers and WFPS members who responded to the grim scene.

“We need to be more aware of which families are struggling and who’s at risk.”–Mitch Bourbonniere

Smyth said the impact on officers can depend on their years of experience.

“We’ve probably applied more tourniquets and suction bandages that have saved more lives than I could even describe,” he said. “At some point, you’re going to experience something that you’ve never experienced before that has the potential to be stressful and traumatic.”

The homicide unit is managing the recent increase in its caseload, said Smyth, who expressed concerns about front-line officers.

In addition to responding to violence and other calls for service, they have been assigned to monitor protests that have been held regularly since the start of the Israel-Hamas war Oct. 7, he noted.

“We are taxing our front-line people pretty significantly,” he said.

Ryan Woiden, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union Local 911, which represents about 400 paramedics in Winnipeg, has spoken to the members who responded to the call.

“It was extremely shocking, very traumatic and it leaves an imprint,” he said.

Paramedics respond to serious incidents that have an impact on them — but don’t make the news — on a daily basis, he noted.

Woiden said Mayor Scott Gillingham called him to express concern for the well-being of the paramedics who helped Sunday’s victims.

Some of the paramedics “got choked up” when Woiden informed them of the mayor’s support.

“It means a lot to them,” he said.

Woiden said a high number of paramedics are on leave for mental-health issues, and others have resigned.

WFPS spokeswoman Erin Madden said 17 paramedics are off work due to “psychological injuries,” based on Workers Compensation Board claims.

Premier Wab Kinew said his government is working to address rising safety concerns in the wake of the shooting.

“As we stand here today there are Manitobans who are grieving and there are other Manitobans who are feeling unsafe, and this situation feels like it’s been getting worse for a long time,” he said.

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Kinew promised further resources and support for police as the investigation develops.

Anyone with information about the shooting or in possession of surveillance or dashcam video is asked to call police at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.

— with files from Danielle Da Silva

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca

Chris Kitching
Reporter

As a general assignment reporter, Chris covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.

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Tyler Searle
Reporter

Since joining the paper in 2022, Tyler has found himself driving through blizzards, documenting protests and scouring the undersides of bridges for potential stories.

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