WINNIPEG — Portage Avenue at Donald Street is now reopened to pedestrians and drivers, after it was shut down for hours Tuesday due to a homicide investigation.
Just before 4 a.m. Tuesday, officers were called on scene to Portage Avenue and Donald Street for reports of an injured individual.
The victim was transported to hospital and has since succumbed to injuries sustained, police said.
“We’re dealing with a very violent incident here,” Const. Jason Michalyshen told reporters on Tuesday.
“The interviews are ongoing, and we’re speaking with people who might have information.”
A pile of clothing could been seen lying on the sidewalk beside a bus shelter in front of MTS Centre.
Police won’t specify the victim’s identity, or if anyone is in custody in connection to the homicide.
It’s the fourteenth homicide of 2016 and the 22nd homicide that has occurred in what police define as the downtown area since Jan. 1 2012.
Of those 22, only six have happened along the Portage Ave. corridor which includes the Sports Entertainment and Hospitality District, Portage and Main and the University of Winnipeg.
WATCH: Winnipeg police investigate homicide in downtown Winnipeg
Police tape was blocking northbound Donald Street to Ellice Avenue, westbound Portage Avenue at Smith Street and eastbound Portage at Hargrave Street. Pedestrians and drivers were unable to access the area for hours.
“Normally when an incident like this happens, they’re isolated. When people know the details a little bit more they kind of put it into perspective and they kind of go along with their daily lives,” said Shawn Matthews, the manager of safety and development of Downtown Biz.
The 26-year veteran of the Winnipeg Police Service is confident the incident won’t affect the growth of the downtown area, “We see the positive changes that are happening, there are more people coming to work downtown, to live downtown, a lot more tourists coming to Winnipeg so all the trends are going in the right way,” said Matthews.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact members of the Winnipeg Homicide Unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).