Three dead, two others injured in Winnipeg shooting

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This article was published 27/11/2023 (715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Three people are dead and two are clinging to life after a mass shooting inside a West Broadway home Sunday morning.

Officers found a man and woman dead inside a multi-unit residence in the 100 block of Langside Street around 4 a.m. Another man was rushed to hospital but did not survive.

The remaining victims, a man and woman, are in critical condition, the Winnipeg Police Service said.

The homicide unit is leading the investigation. The victims’ identities are still being confirmed, and police are working to notify their families.

“We are very hopeful that we can, at the very least, move this investigation forward as quickly as possible because we know there are a lot of loved ones out there who are either about to get information that is going to be life-changing for them, or are in the process of getting that information,” Const. Jason Michalyshen told reporters at a news conference outside police headquarters Sunday afternoon.

“Sadly, we’ve dealt with a lot of very traumatic incidents in the past where individuals are fatally injured… This one, there’s no question, stands out.”

By 10 a.m., police had cordoned off a large section of the roadway near Langside and Sara Avenue.

Neighbourhood residents stood watch behind police tape, as investigators entered and exited a two-storey home at 143 Langside St. Several had already spoken with police, who came to their homes in search of footage from surveillance cameras.

“We live in West Broadway, so it’s not always maybe the safest neighbourhood, but this is a pretty uncommon occurrence to have the street blocked off by police. It’s pretty scary that something like this would happen just a few doors down from where we live,” neighbour Kelly Nickel said.

Nickel, who has lived in a multiplex near the scene for six years, said he was asleep at the time of the incident. After reviewing footage from his doorbell camera, he realized police knocked on his door around 4:20 a.m.

“The cops came (again) at 8:30 (a.m.) to ask if we had any footage of anything, but our camera didn’t capture anything,” he said.

Other area residents reported hearing the sound of gunfire around the time of the incident.

“I woke up to it,” said one woman, who lives in a nearby apartment building and asked not to be named.

“The cops wouldn’t tell us what happened, but I asked because I’ve got two kids,” she said. “(A police officer) just told me he was a homicide detective and they had reports of a shooting.”

The shooting drew officers from across the downtown, north, east and west districts, Michalyshen said, describing the incident as “very, very serious.”

He noted the investigation is in its early stages, but will continue for “days, weeks and certainly potentially longer.”

Michalyshen could not confirm whether police have identified any suspects or arrested anybody relating to the shooting. He also could not provide any additional details about the victims.

“Until we identify the individuals present, and certainly the individuals that sustained critical injuries and fatalities, we can’t really present any type of relationship, why they were there (or) how they are associated to that address, but that is a very important component of our investigation,” he said.

“Our commitment to those individuals is evident, and we are going to do our very best to move this forward and hold people accountable for their actions.”

Investigators have not confirmed a possible motive, but have not ruled out the potential of gang involvement, Michalyshen said.

He encouraged anyone with information to make contact with police, stressing “a small bit of information can be vital to any investigation.”

“There’s a lot of questions that have yet to be answered,” he said.

Mayor Scott Gillingham published a statement on the shooting around 2 p.m., calling the incident “shocking and disturbing.”

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families during this time,” he wrote in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“Acts of violence like this are a troubling reminder that there is still too much violent crime, and too much gun-related crime in our city. It’s critical we work with the provincial and federal governments and community partners to strengthen our approach to public safety.”

The mayor credited police, paramedics and firefighters who responded to the scene, saying they demonstrated professionalism and courage in the face of a “truly traumatic situation.”

“I acknowledge the lasting impact attending such scenes can have on their lives,” he said.

Premier Wab Kinew provided a similar statement on X, calling the shooting a “terrible act of violence.”

He has asked Justice Minister Matt Wiebe to work with city officials to strengthen the governments’ shared approach to public safety, he said.

Police expect to release updates regarding the investigation in the coming days, Michalyshen said.

Anyone with video surveillance or information is asked to call police at 204-986-6508, Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS), or online at winnipegcrimestoppers.org

» Winnipeg Free Press