Winnipeg adds two cases to escalated homicide pace

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This article was published 05/05/2022 (1305 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police are investigating two separate killings that occurred less than 24 hours apart this week — the city’s 17th and 18th homicides, respectively, of 2022.

The city had recorded six slayings by this time last year. By year’s end 2021 there had been 43 homicides, just shy of the all-time high of 44 people killed in 2019.

“Unfortunately, we are currently on pace for more than that in 2022,” Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jay Murray told the Free Press on Thursday.

On Young Street, between Ellice and Sargent avenues Thursday, police squad cars remained in the front and back of a two-storey triplex, which was behind yellow crime scene tape.

Police had been there since around 9 p.m. Wednesday, when they attended a report of a disturbance and serious assault. When officers arrived, they found a body outside the home. The victim had not yet been publicly identified; police had not announced any arrests.

Bill Crawford, 58, a caretaker who lives across the street, was about to bike out for a pack of cigarettes when he told the Free Press of alleged drug-dealing from one of the suites.

“It’s a down house — they sell down out of there,” Crawford said, referring to an illicit mixture of fentanyl and heroin combined with a cutting agent. “Lots of people in there, 24-7.”

Crawford said he recently told police who had responded to the home of the constant comings-and-goings and the alleged drug dealing from one of the triplex’s suites.

“Now this happened. Hopefully, they’ll shut it down.”

He said the police response was large, including four squad cars on Young Street and more in the back alley.

“I got home about 10:30 (Wednesday night) — cops all over this place… I didn’t want to come outside,” he said. “They were searching with flashlights.”

Han, an area landlord who asked his surname be withheld, said he was waiting for police to investigate the triplex.

“A homicide, that’s a surprise, but homicide or not, it’s a drug house,” he said.

The reduction of student traffic from the nearby University of Winnipeg on the block due to the COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with an uptick in local drug dealing, the landlord said.

However, Han added, the West End is largely a good neighbourhood.

“I’m lucky to have good tenants that care about the area, care about the house, care about the fact they can just walk and grab a bus at Portage Avenue.”

Shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, police went to the parkade at The Forks for a report of an assault. Officers found a man injured and gave him medical care, but he was pronounced dead in hospital.

Police have identified the victim as Kyle James Craik, 27, of Winnipeg, but had not announced any arrests.

On Thursday, no traces of a police investigation remained in the parkade of the popular downtown tourist spot.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim,” said The Forks spokeswoman Jenna Khan, noting she had no further details to provide beyond what police had provided.

“The team at The Forks is co-operating fully with the authorities, as this is a police matter and an on-going investigation.”

The high number of homicides this year has taxed detectives tasked with investigating, as well as other police who assist in the intensive probes, including general patrol and the identification unit, the WPS said.

As well, Murray said, there’s been an uptick in gun homicides, tolling the firearms analysis section.

However, police “work relentlessly to pursue justice for families and friends of those affected by homicide,” he said.

Murray said he could not comment on the current clearance rate of homicides this year (defined by the number of arrests made), as the investigations are ongoing.

Police have asked anyone with information about either of the latest slayings to call the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera