Winnipeg police are treating the death of a 60-year-old woman at a deliberately-set house fire near the intersection of Wardlaw Avenue and Scott Street as a homicide.
This marks the city’s 29th homicide of 2021, putting Winnipeg on pace to break the 44-homicide record set in 2019 as the city’s worst-ever.
The incident, which took place around 11 p.m. Sunday, started at a two-storey house and extended to an adjacent convenience store.
While one person was able to escape the blaze, firefighters attempted a rescue of the woman, who was on the second floor.
The woman, who has been identified as Jung Shin, was taken to hospital in critical condition, where she later died of her injuries.
Police said Wednesday the fire was set deliberately and was one of four arson attempts in the area that night — including a debris fire further down Scott Street, an unsuccessful attempt at setting fire to a church on the same street, and another attempt on Stradbrook Avenue.
The same person is suspected in each case, police said.
The suspect is described as a man around 30 years old and 5’10” in height, with an athletic build and short light hair — or possibly a shaved head.
He was seen wearing a blue Adidas baseball hat, black t-shirt, black shorts, black footwear with white soles, and a black mask.
Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477)
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