Charges upgraded as man dies shortly after accused arrested

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This article was published 06/06/2024 (725 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As detectives had Dorion Anthony Terrence Olson in for processing at Winnipeg police headquarters Wednesday, they learned the man he’s accused of assaulting in Osborne Village last month died in hospital.

Rather than charge the 25-year-old with assault-related offences as originally planned, he was instead booked in for second-degree murder.

Richard Lauren Fehr, 56, was assaulted in a parking lot near the Liquor Mart at River Avenue and Osborne Street on the night of May 25.

Fehr was unconscious when police arrived at around 9:10 p.m. Officers gave him first aid before paramedics rushed him to hospital.

Fehr was placed on life support in hospital but died Wednesday, the Winnipeg Police Service said Thursday.

Police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said Fehr and Olson knew each other, though she did not know the exact nature of their relationship.

The two had been together in the area before they got into an altercation, which escalated into an assault, McKinnon said, before Olson fled.

“We’ve been asked (by investigators) not to release a lot because they’re still working on some internal aspects of the investigations,” said McKinnon.

McKinnon said she could not reveal whether a weapon was used in the attack.

She said investigators had identified Olson earlier Wednesday, before Fehr was pronounced dead.

“He was arrested on the same day, they had just got him, just arrested him — they were proceeding with the assault charges, when they learned Fehr passed away,” said McKinnon.

Police said investigators have spoken with Fehr’s family.

Olson was due in court on the murder charge on Thursday. The outcome of the hearing was not immediately clear.

He has two past convictions in a Manitoba court, records show.

In April 2022, Olson was convicted of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, specifically a motor vehicle, and dangerous driving.

He was given a suspended sentence with supervised probation for two years.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca