3 homicides in one night included death of 14-year-old girl, Winnipeg police say

Winnipeg police are investigating three homicidesincluding the death of a teenagegirlthat occurred in a single night, Const. Rob Carver said Sunday morning.

A 14-year-old girl is dead and an 18-year-old woman is recovering in hospital after they were stabbedat a Halloweenparty Saturday night in Winnipeg's Tyndall Park neighbourhood, Carver said.

In a separate incident, two men are dead after they were found suffering from upper body injuries in a rear lane near Ross Avenue and Isabel Street early Sunday morning.

"We're certainly on track to a horrible number," said Carver, about Winnipeg's rising homicide rate.

The city has seen 36 homicides this year,which includes seven in the last three weeks alone.

Carversaid in the case of the Halloween party, police were called tothe 100 block of Kinver Avenue near InksterBoulevard and Keewatin Street at about 10:45 p.m. CT on Saturday.

When officers arrived, they found two femalessuffering from stab wounds. Both were taken to hospital in critical condition, but the 14-year-old died from her injuries.

The 18-year-old's status was upgraded to stable condition.

Men in black

Fatesh Chauhanwas watching television with his kids when he said he heard piercing screams coming from outside his home late Saturday night between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

"She was screaming," he said.

Chauhan lives next door to the residence where theteen was killed. He said it sounded like the person yelling was in unbearable pain.

"She was shouting a lot at the start. But after that, I didn't hear any noise," Chauhan said.

When he opened his window to scope out the situation, hesaw peoplecalling at each other and running around his back street. He said abouteight to 10 men were dressed head-to-toein black clothing, includingjackets and hoods, and a few others were wearing white.

About ten minutes later, they were gone. It was weird, he said.

Chauhan said he did not recognize them, and he was not very familiar with the person who lived next door.

'Absolutely horrible'

"I was stunned," Carver said. "Every single homicide is a tragedy for the city, for the community, for the family and friends who know the person. Some are worse than others, and I think a 14-year-old being murdered is absolutely horrible. It took my breath away this morning."

He said more than 10 people were at the party and couldn't say ifalcohol was involved.He said no arrests have been made.

"We have a number of people currently detained. Some where we're speaking to them as witnesses, some detained where we're trying to figure out what role they had.We have not made arrests yet, but I think we have spoken to most of the people we're looking for," he said.

In the other incident, police were called to Ross Avenue and Isabel Street at 2:30 a.m. Both men were transported to the hospital in critical condition, but died from upper body injuries.

Carver could not say how the men were killed or if weapons were involved. No arrests have been made.

He said the incident doesn't seem to be random and said it is not connected to the other homicide investigation.

Carver said the investigation is ongoing by members of the major crimes unit. Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).