Man dead, two others injured in North End assault

A 23-year-old is accused of killing one man and seriously injuring two others in an assault at a housing complex in Winnipeg’s North End early Monday morning.

Winnipeg Police Service officers were called to the 200 block of Stella Walk, near King Street, just before 3:20 a.m. on Monday, where they found two injured men outside and one inside a nearby suite. Police gave the men emergency first aid before paramedics arrived in an ambulance to rush them to hospital.

The two men found outside, 23 and 27, were taken to hospital in unstable condition, but were later stabilized. The man found inside the suite, who was in critical condition, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Homicide detectives have identified the dead man as Robson Isaac Sinclair, a 49-year-old from Fisher River Cree Nation who lived in Winnipeg.

Officers arrested Elroy Ross, 23, in the area a short time after the assaults were reported, police spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said. Ross has been charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault.

In the past, Ross has been convicted of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and three breaches of court orders, court records show. He pleaded guilty to the weapons offence in April 2024 and was given a conditional discharge and nine months of probation.

Chancy, who said the homicide investigation is still in its early stages, had little other information he could confirm about the incident. He could not say whether the accused is believed to have known the victims.

“There’s lots of moving parts,” he said.

Police have not yet revealed whether a weapon was involved in the assault.

On Tuesday afternoon, police tape surrounded an apartment in the area. Blood could be seen on the ground.

“I just saw three ambulances here and then a lot of police,” said Mahad Ibrahim, a neighbour who said he saw paramedics putting someone into an ambulance.

He was the only member of his family to watch the response unfold and said the scene has left him feeling uneasy.

“This is new to me,” he said. “This is my first time seeing this and I was really shocked that it was in my neighbourhood.”

Ibrahim said he did not know the victims nor the accused.

Another woman who lives in a neighbouring apartment said the area is usually quiet, but there have been a few incidents in the last two months.

“I always wake up in the middle of the night and when I looked out the window, there was a whole bunch of flashing lights,” said Tiffany Friesen, who was out walking her dog.

Another woman at the scene confirmed video footage from cameras running 24-7 had been turned over to police.

The area surrounded by police tape is less than 100 metres away from David Livingstone School.

Shalene Demas’s four daughters attend the school and walked past the slaying scene.

“It is concerning for me,” she said. “It seems like it’s getting worse around here and of course it’s worrying. My daughters play at the playground right there.”

Demas said the incident makes her feel “more cautious and protective” for her children, who regularly play with friends in the neighbourhood.

“I don’t want them running around by themselves now — even with their friends.”

Sinclair’s death marks the 12th homicide in Winnipeg this year.

Homicide detectives asked anyone with information to call their office at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca