WINNIPEG – Police have charged a teenage boy with second degree murder in the killing of Kathleen Leary, 66, earlier this week.
Police say the teen is known to the victim. The boy’s identity can’t be revealed and there was no word on what motivated the killing but police said it was not a random attack.
READ MORE: Retired mother of 4 killed at Charleswood home Tuesday
“A youth from Winnipeg who is known to the victim has been charged with second degree murder for his involvement,” Constable Eric Hofley said Thursday.
Tuesday afternoon, police were called to Leary’s home where they found her suffering from serious injuries. Police said the teen was arrested near the home a short time later.
“That shocks me actually,” said neighbour Curtis Whitehead. “Anything like that is terrible.”
Winnipeg police said they were initially told Leary was attacked during a home invasion but they’ve since learned no one broke into the home. Heavily armed officers swarmed the neighbourhood looking for a home invasion suspect before realizing that story was false.
“The residents in the area, there is nothing to fear in regards to someone breaking in or a home invasion,” said Hofley.
Leary was a mother of four daughters and a grandmother. Several family members still lived with her. In February, Leary retired from a lengthy career with the Norway House Cree Nation.
The teen is being held at the Manitoba Youth Centre and during his first court appearance Thursday looked distraught and at one point mouthed the words ‘I love you’ to his mother.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, he can’t be identified.
The teen will make his next court appearance Monday after which his lawyer will attempt to seek bail.
Comments