Murder charge stayed against man accused in slaying at soccer complex

Crown prosecutors have stayed first-degree murder charges against one of the three men accused in the shooting death of a 22 year old at a Winnipeg soccer complex last summer.

Mohamed Yusuf Abdullahi, 22, suffered multiple gunshot wounds in what Winnipeg homicide detectives believe was a targeted slaying in the parking lot of the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex shortly before midnight July 13, 2024.

Crown prosecutors entered the stay of proceedings on Ibrahim Bangura’s murder charge on May 13 after they determined his “involvement is different than the co-accused,” a provincial government spokesman said.

No further details were made public.

Bangura, who was 26 when homicide detectives arrested him in Winnipeg on Jan. 20, was one of three co-accused.

Norbert Kipala was 27 when he was arrested Feb. 5 and charged with first-degree murder.

He was picked up at a Thunder Bay, Ont., jail, where he was being held. Court records show Kipala faces drug, gun and other charges in that city.

A Canada-wide first-degree murder warrant for the third suspect, Tresor Horimbere, remains active. Horimbere has not been arrested, Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman Ally Cox confirmed Tuesday. He has family and friends in Winnipeg but could be in Ontario, police have said.

Investigators believe the suspects were part of the 100-spectator crowd watching a game at the complex on Waverley Street and Victor Lewis Drive. Abdullahi played in the Canada African Cup of Nations match just before he was gunned down.

The killing is not suspected to be directly connected to the tournament.

The suspects may have covered their faces at the game to avoid identifying themselves, police have said.

Police suspect the drug world and possible gang connections may have played a role in the killing.

Abdullahi and his family arrived in Canada in 2014 as refugees after escaping civil war in Somalia, mourners were told at a memorial last year.

He was remembered as a youth full of promise and a talented soccer player who had organized a training camp for kids, and was interested in auto mechanics.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca