Winnipeg police search for ‘person of interest’ in homicides targeting homeless

WINNIPEG – Police say the same killer is responsible for two separate homicides downtown Saturday and may be targeting the homeless or vulnerable.

On Sunday officers issued an unusual warning for those who spend time on the streets to be cautious and avoid secluded areas.

“Stay with your friends, there’s safety in numbers, don’t wander off with someone you don’t know,” said Sgt. John O’Donovan of the Winnipeg Police Service.

Police found a man in his late 60s in an alley near 329 Hargrave Street Saturday at about 12:45 a.m.

Then at 6:30 p.m. Saturday a security guard reportedly found a man in his late 40s behind 333 Portage Ave.

“Both are victims or vulnerable persons here from our community here in Winnipeg,” said Sgt. John O’Donovan Sunday. “They are vulnerable in a way that they suffer from mental health and or substance abuse and they spent a lot of their lives  on the streets.”

Officers believe between 9:00 p.m. Friday and 1:00 a.m. Saturday the two men were “brutally killed.”

“It’s unnerving to know that something bad happened in the area,” said Kirk Bahuaud, who lives a block from where the second homicide happened. He was surprised when he saw police tape across the street Sunday morning.

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No arrests have been made and later Sunday police released security camera images of a man described as “of interest to investigators” in the case.

They are also looking for a man and woman who were near Hargrave by a construction trailer between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday.

“The manner of the crime scene and what we learned when we attended the crime scenes would lead us to believe that they are linked,” said O’Donovan about the homicides.

Local shelters are spreading the word to vulnerable members of the community suffering from mental illness or substance abuse.

“We have roughly 500 or so people that will pass through using our various services so we’ve made several announcements… just to tell people, you know, be safe,” said  Dan Maxson, the director of operations at Siloam Mission.

And members of the homeless community are warning their friends who have no way of knowing about what happened.

“A lot of them are walking around here blind… and you know, when you’re not looking behind you or over your shoulders, you’re the next victim,” said Andrew Hermkens, who spent many years living on the streets.

Homicide detectives are asking for anyone with information that could help find the killer to contact investigators at (204) 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-TIPS.

Police have not released the identities and autopsy results are pending.

Officers are continuing to investigate.

A vigil will be held for the two victims Sunday night on Hargrave Street close to where both bodies were found. Community members will gather with drums, songs, prayers to warn their friends and family downtown.