Residents worried about safety after North End shooting

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This article was published 18/06/2022 (1216 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Robin Friesen is relieved he wasn’t in the wrong place at the wrong time Friday afternoon.

The 45-year-old Winnipegger regularly catches the bus to work at the corner of Salter Street and Mountain Avenue, the North End intersection where, at around 4:15 p.m. Friday, Winnipeg police opened fire and shot a male. He later died in hospital.

Friesen lives a short walk from the scene and first heard of the incident through a text from his roommate, who thought the gunshots were fireworks.

“I’ve lived in this area for about a year and a half and this is the second shooting that’s happened. It’s an unfortunate situation and something we are getting used to at this point,” he said. “My roommate said they heard three shots and texted me to let me know when they figured out what happened.”

Friesen said it’s unsettling to know these things happen in his neighbourhood, especially during the daytime.

“I don’t leave the house when I get home from work unless I really need to,” he said. “When I go grocery shopping or need anything, I go to other areas of the city. There are some really great people who live in this neighbourhood, but there are also others who make it unsafe,” he said.

The shooting is the latest deadly incident to occur on Winnipeg streets.

The city’s homicide rate sits at 25 for the year — an accelerated pace compared to recent years. As of June 15 last year, 16 people had been slain in the city, according to a Free Press analysis. In 2020, 19 homicides had been logged in that time frame.

Rai Macaranas has lived on Salter for more than 20 years and is used to the rougher side of the neighbourhood, but he’s still concerned with the high crime rate.

“You learn over time not to go out at night or alone, but for this to happen during the day was a bit surprising,” he said. “It’s not a good feeling to have something like that happen so close to home.”

Macaranas and his family have a pet dog partially to protect them and scare away potential trouble. They also keep their doors locked at all times.

“I think a lot of the time the area might not be as bad as people think, but situations like this give it a reputation. You just need to keep an eye out at all times.”

An employee of a business on Salter Street who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons said incidents like the shooting drive away customers.

“Unless you live close and it’s convenient, you likely won’t come here and that’s bad for businesses in the area. It’s just as unsafe for the workers as it is for everyone else, except we have to come every day to make our living.”

Winnipeg police confirmed the shooting Friday evening in a news release, but refused to provide further details Saturday.

The investigation has been turned over to the Independent Investigations Unit.

bryce.hunt@freepress.mb.ca