Widow ‘disgusted’ after suspect sought in second homicide

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/01/2022 (1356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jayme-Lea Sinclair’s grief has turned to anger and disgust.

On Friday, Winnipeg police said one of the two men accused in the slaying of her common-law husband last month is now wanted in connection with another deadly shooting that took place just two weeks earlier.

Her partner, 35-year-old Anthony Sinclair, was gunned down on the way to the corner shop on the evening of Dec. 9 near the intersection of Stella Avenue and McGregor Street. He died in hospital and Sinclair believes his killing was random.

Thunder Lightning Fontaine, 22, of Winnipeg — already wanted for Sinclair’s killing — is now accused in the homicide of Angus John Maple, 40, who was shot Nov. 24 in an apartment on the 300 block of Mountain Avenue. Maple also died in hospital.

“(I’m) disgusted because I don’t understand how somebody can take somebody else’s life like that and it seems that this had been random too, from my understanding,” Jayme-Lea said Saturday.

“Angry that this guy was still out there.”

But she said she was thankful to homicide detectives for pursuing the case.

Alex Arumeul Genaille, 23 of Winnipeg, was arrested in Sinclair’s death this week and charged with second-degree murder and multiple firearms offences.

“It lets me know they’re still working on it, for that I’m thankful. Hopefully (Fontaine) will get caught.”

Fontaine and Genaille had previous criminal convictions.

Court records show both have been identified as low-functioning, with troubled backgrounds and a history of addictions and methamphetamine use.

The Sinclairs had two sons together and raised Anthony’s three boys from another relationship. Now, Jayme-Lea is on her own with the kids.

“It’s… my oldest son’s birthday on Monday but even my oldest doesn’t feel like celebrating. Nothing is the same without Tony,” she said.

Anthony was fiercely protective, worrying about her safety in what sometimes felt like an unsafe neighbourhood — making this incident all the more devastating, she previously told the Free Press.

“I have no words for (the accused) right now… I’m waiting for my chance to say something to him in the court process,” she said.

It’s unusual for a suspect to be accused in more than one killing, Winnipeg police Const. Jay Murray told the Free Press.

“It’s certainly rare for us to see somebody that’s been charged with two different homicides,” he said.

The most recent example Murray could recall was John Paul Ostamas, who was convicted in 2017 of three counts of second-degree murder for beating three homeless men to death in downtown Winnipeg over the course of two weeks in 2015.

Murray said it’s too early to say whether the killings of Maple and Sinclair are connected.

“They certainly are by means of the suspect we’ve identified,” he said.

Police have not yet released a suspected motive in either homicide.

Police say the weapon used in the killings is worrisome.

“The concern, I think, is escalated by the fact we believe a firearm was used in both of these homicides,” Murray said.

Police describe Fontaine as Indigenous, about 5-8 tall and 170-180 pounds with a thin build. He has a tattoo of a teardrop below his right eye and the letters “D.N.G.” above it.

Homicide investigators have obtained Canada-wide warrants for Fontaine for first-degree murder in Maple’s death, second-degree murder in Sinclair’s death, and four counts of possessing a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.

Police are asking the public not to approach the suspect and call 911 if he’s spotted. Anyone with information about the homicides can call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca