Dennis Ward
APTN National News
WINNIPEG – Two murders over the weekend in Winnipeg have people in the city’s homeless community on edge.
The homicides happened in hours of each other and within a block of one another. Police believe the incidents are related.
At a news conference on Sunday, Winnipeg police also did not rule out a possible link to another unsolved homicide involving a vulnerable person on April 10.
These latest homicides occurred on Saturday, April 25 between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.
The victims were both males. One in his 40s and the other in his 60s. Investigators believe one suspect is responsible for both murders.
Winnipeg police Sgt. John O’Donovan said “both victims are vulnerable persons” who “suffer from mental health and or substance abuse and spend a lot of their lives on the streets.”
Winnipeg police are asking those in the homeless community or that frequent the streets to use caution, avoid secluded areas and if at all possible, walk with others.
News of the two brutal killings has some of the city’s homeless community scared.
The murders were on many people’s minds outside of one of Winnipeg’s largest shelters.
James McPhee said he and others were frightened and in fear of being next. Others said they already feel like vulnerable people in Winnipeg are targeted.
In the course of their investigation on Saturday night, Winnipeg police seized an APTN National News camera for more than an hour.
One of the bodies was found on APTN property.
APTN immediately provided a video tape containing surveillance footage to police. APTN will not be releasing, or using a portion of that video, out of respect for the family.
FIRST HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY SUFFERED FROM MENTAL ILLNESS OR OTHER, DID HE KNOW THEM OR HAVE CONTACT WITH SOME ONE WHO KNEW THEM? ALSO WHY DO HOMELESS OR OTHERWISE HAVE PEOPLE ASSUME THINGS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT, GET YOU FACTS FIRST AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN FACT VERY THUROUGH.