Man shot, killed in Winnipeg's West End as gun violence spikes in city

A shooting in Winnipeg's West End has left a man dead.

Emergency crews were called around1:15a.m. Tuesday to Ellice Avenue near Empress Street, where theyfoundthe man with serious injuries.

He was rushed to hospital in critical condition but pronounced dead soon afterward.

The investigation covers a large area, withElliceblocked betweenEmpress and Strathcona streets, and it will remain that way "for the foreseeable future," police spokesmanConst. Jay Murray said.

Hesaid 11 police units, including two canine units, were part of the first response team to the area. Aforensic identification unit is now atthe scene as well, and bullet casings can be seen on the ground.

Winnipeg police say preliminary investigation has revealed the shooting was not random in nature.

No one is in custody and Murray couldn't comment on if there are any suspects.

The homicide is the eighth of the year, which puts the city on pace for 42, Murray said.

Homicides in Winnipeg:

• 2011: 41
• 2012: 31
• 2013: 25
• 2014: 27
• 2015: 23
• 2016: 25
• 2017: 24
• 2018: 22

The city didn't record itseighth homicide in 2018 until May 29, and finished with 22.

"You obviously hope there will be a lull; you never want to see homicides in your city," Murray said.

"But we're not off to a great start."

Increasing gun violence

Murray said police are also seeing a shocking increase ingun violence in the city.

Three of Winnipeg's 22 homicides last year involved firearms.This year, it's alreadyfive out of eight, he said.

"That's an alarming stat to me," he said."We've seen a significant increase in firearms that have been seized year to year."

Early information is that in 2018, policeseized 1,714 guns, he said.

Of those, 760 were classified as "crime guns" those used in a crime, found on the streetor connected to someone charged with unauthorized possession, Murray said.

"There's not a day that goes by that I don't review the last 24 hours and see that officers are taking firearms off the street," Murray said.

"I don't know what the answer is but we'll keep working."

Typically, where there is an increase in thedrug trade, there is a corresponding surge in gun violence, Murray said. Right now, Winnipeg is in the midst of a methamphetaminecrisis.

"That's one thing wesee often, hand-in-hand, drugs and guns go together," Murray said.

Police announced last week the creation of a guns and gangs unit that will launch in spring.

3 homicides, 10 days

There have been three homicides in 10 days in the city.

Jaime (Jimboy)Adao, 17, died on March 3when he was attacked during a home invasion at his family's house on McGee Street in the West End.

The man accused of the attack,Ronald Chubb, 29, was shot at the scene by police and has been inhospital with critical injuries ever since.

Investigators intend tocharge him with murder once they are able to speak to him, police have said.

On March 8, Warren Stewart Nabess, 52, died after being assaulted at a home on SelkirkAvenue in the city's North End, around 4:45 a.m.

Robert Terry Williams-Stove, 19, and Eric Justin Sinclair, 38, have been charged with second-degree murder in that killing, while a 15-year-old is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

The homicide Tuesday comes just five days afterpolice hosted a safety forum in the West End to talk about ways to address theproblems afflicting the neighbourhood crime, addictions and gang issues they believe are being fuelled by methamphetamine.

This investigation into Tuesday's shooting is continuing by members of the police service's Homicide Unit.

Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Man dead after shooting in West End

6 years ago

Duration 1:26

Winnipeg Police are investigating an overnight homicide in a parking lot near Polo Park