Two dead in ‘targeted’ attack

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This article was published 21/06/2025 (287 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RM OF VICTORIA BEACH — Two people are dead and the suspect remained at large after a shooting on a quiet road in Sandy Bay, on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, early Friday.

Investigators combed the area for clues after someone killed a 41-year-old local woman, identified by locals and on social media as Melissa Julie Wilson, and a 29-year-old Winnipeg man.

RCMP would not confirm the names of the victims.

Police discovered the bodies near one of the buildings on the property after they received a report about possible gunshots on Hampton Road at about 2 a.m. The site is about 100 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

“We believe it to be targeted,” RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre said in front of the property, which was taped off. “We’re trying to put the facts together as to what the reason for it is, but we don’t believe this is random.

“We don’t want people to panic right now. Is there (a suspect) on the loose? Yes. We’re searching for a suspect right now. This isn’t random — we’re quite certain of that. We don’t want people to think that there’s a killer going from cottage to cottage and just randomly shooting people. That’s not what we believe occurred here.”

RCMP said a “person of interest” in a white pickup truck was seen driving southbound on Highway 59, but gave no other details.

“As of this investigation, not even 12 hours into it, we have a lot of work in front of us,” Manaigre said. “It is quite a substantial area for us to cover.”

Manaigre said the two victims were known to law enforcement based on past involvement, but did not provide details.

“Nothing extensive,” he said, adding it’s why they believe the killings were not random.

Police said they did not know the connection between the victims or the person of interest.

Neighbours who spoke to the Winnipeg Free Press on Friday said they found out about the slayings when they woke up. A thunderstorm had rolled through the area overnight, making it difficult to hear anything but the storm.

“It’s a quiet community,” one neighbour said, asking not to be named.

Another neighbour, who has lived in the area for years, said he knew one of the people who lived at the home.

“If there was trouble coming from this neighbourhood, you knew where to look. There’s a long history.”

Most people who were willing to talk to a reporter had the same view. Another neighbour said it was “only a matter of time” before something happened at the property, which had at least two buildings on it.

Few said they were concerned about their safety, agreeing with police the slaying was linked to the property.

Neighbours described the residence as “run down” and “needing cleaning.”

“It’s so quiet and peaceful around here,” said another neighbour, who has lived in a lakefront property for 20 years. “We do think there was a lot of drug activity there, but we don’t know for sure. We know the owner. I don’t think they would have done it.”

Another neighbour, who said he keeps to himself, indicated he didn’t want the cosy cottage community to be seen in a negative light.

“I just can’t go against the community, people are just enjoying the beach here,” he said, having only found out about the shooting. “I bet this is the talk of the town.”

Officers from the RCMP’s major crimes unit, along with Victoria Beach police, were combing the area for clues Friday afternoon.

Later in the day, animal control came by and took a dog from the property.

Hampton Road is located in the northeast end of a peninsula, in the Rural Municipality of Victoria Beach. An area filled with cottages and restricted to vehicle traffic from late June until Labour Day is located to the southwest.

Penny McMorris, mayor of the RM, declined to comment on Friday.

RCMP asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Powerview detachment at 204-367-8728, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

» Winnipeg Free Press