Homicide stats in Canadian Cities [Archive] - Page 5

Dmajackson

Apr 2, 2009, 8:31 PM

Halifax just went up to four :(

But last night's find might be the body of a missing cabbie from January which will be nice for the family since they'll get some closure.

Apparently cops looking for the cabbie found the body near the site where his car was burned.

Man was murdered
Officials have yet to ID body; autopsy to be performed Friday
By SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY, DAVENE JEFFREY and JOHN McPHEE Staff Reporters
Thu. Apr 2 - 4:54 PM

RCMP have confirmed that a body found in North Preston on Wednesday afternoon is a man and he was murdered.

“We’re treating the death as a homicide and right now there’s no positive (identification),” RCMP spokesman Cpl. Joe Taplin said Thursday morning.

Cpl. Taplin said police will not have a positive ID until an autopsy is completed.

The body had not been removed from the scene of Upper Governor Street by 2 p.m., about 30 minutes after the Nova Scotia medical examiner arrived. The body was expected to be moved later in the day and an autopsy will be done Friday.

On Wednesday, officers were walking along the dirt road looking for the body of missing taxi driver Sergei Kostin.

“Since Mr. Kostin disappeared, we’ve been periodically looking in certain areas all through the Cherry Brook (and) North Preston area and yesterday this is one of the areas they wanted to look in,” Cpl. Taplin said.

“This is probably the fourth area up in around here. We done North Preston, just off the Downey Road area, we searched all in there, we’ve searched up in an area in Dartmouth, last week we were in the Cherry Brook area and yesterday it was walking down the roads and fortunately the body was found.”

The 40-year-old cabbie with Bob’s/Bluebell Taxi in Dartmouth hasn’t been seen since he went to pick up a fare at a variety store at 21 Gaston Rd. in Dartmouth at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 17. Police are still asking the public for any information on the two men Mr. Kostin picked up that afternoon.

Twenty minutes later, the global positioning system in Mr. Kostin’s cab was disabled at the end of Johnston Road in Cherry Brook.

Four forensic identification units returned to the scene Thursday morning.

When asked if any identification was found on the body, Cpl. Taplin told reporters there was some evidence seized at the scene. He would not disclose details.

“That’s going to be part of the investigation that’s going to continue,” he said.

“Right now, we can’t have a positive identification of the male until the autopsy is completed.”

Cpl. Taplin also said he could not yet release the age and race of the man or say how decomposed the body is.

“We can say that we do believe the body has been there for a while,” he said.

Family members will not be identified until a positive identification is made.

A Natural Resources helicopter circled the area at least four times by noon Thursday, with officers taking aerial photographs before they continued their investigation.

RCMP forensic investigators used a chainsaw at the scene to clear the brush around the body.

The forensic unit remained at the scene — about 500 metres from the centre of North Preston — until about 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

“This morning they’re going to be doing some aerial photos and then they’re going to be back on scene and they’ll continue their investigation where they left off last night,” Cpl. Taplin said Thursday.

The recent mild weather likely helped officers in making the discovery, he said.

By late Wednesday afternoon, police had closed off access to the area and were turning away any vehicles that attempted to pass.

Upper Governor Street is one of only two ways in and out of North Preston.

Mr. Kostin was reported missing on Jan. 17 by co-workers at Bob’s.

A day later, his burned-out green Chevrolet Impala was found behind an abandoned North Preston building on Downey Road.

Mr. Kostin is a native of Ukraine who came to Halifax in 1993. He has a wife and two children in Ukraine.

His missing person’s case has been added to the province’s major crimes rewards program, which offers cash rewards of up to $150,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Another taxi driver who has known Mr. Kostin for about five years said many passengers he drove Thursday fondly remembered Mr. Kostin.

“One lady said ... he was very polite, he helped her to the car and helped her with groceries,” said the driver, who asked not to be named.

“She got in his car so many times and his car was always clean and he was polite.

“It’s really touchy for people. They were strangers but they remember him.”

Earlier this week, this driver said he believes Mr. Kostin got caught in the middle of trouble among his passengers or could have witnessed something

Rusty van Reddick

Apr 2, 2009, 10:22 PM

Yes, Fuzzy, murders are down in Calgary per capita, but look at what kind of murders are happening now, compared to a decade ago, or two decades. People weren't being executed by gangs in front of suburban strip malls in south Calgary 15 years ago.

Sure they were.

vid

Apr 4, 2009, 4:01 AM

Sure they were. Sure they were.

Calgary is purrfect! :fruit:

Rusty van Reddick

Apr 4, 2009, 4:58 AM

Sure they were. Sure they were.

Calgary is purrfect! :fruit:

You might want to check it out some time.

vid

Apr 4, 2009, 5:16 AM

As long as you promise to stay far away from me when I do. :)

Dmajackson

Apr 5, 2009, 3:23 PM

Just a follow up on my last post.

Body ID’d as missing cabbie

By IAN FAIRCLOUGH Staff Reporter
Sun. Apr 5 - 5:11 AM
RCMP have identified human remains found in North Preston last week as those of missing cab driver Sergei Kostin.

The Ukrainian-born driver for Bob’s and Blue Bell Taxi has been missing since Jan. 17. His burned-out cab was found three days later in North Preston, about one kilometre from where he was found Wednesday afternoon in brush along Upper Governor Street.

Police say they are treating his death as a homicide.

News that the remains were in fact those of Mr. Kostin was not a surprise to one of his friends and fellow cab drivers.

"Everyone expected it; everyone knew," the man said Saturday night. "It’s very sad."

The man, who didn’t want to be identified, said Mr. Kostin, who was 40 at the time of his death, can at least be laid to rest now that he has been found.

Police aren’t releasing information about how Mr. Kostin was killed. RCMP spokeswoman Const. Lana Woodfine said that information is part of the investigation by the Halifax RCMP-Halifax Regional Police integrated major crime unit.

Mr. Kostin’s friend said he is working in the same area that Mr. Kostin covered.

He said passengers there tell him that Mr. Kostin was a "very good guy.

Some older ladies get tears and cry. They said he was very polite and helpful. Everyone remembers him."

The man said Mr. Kostin’s case had already made him uneasy. "It’s not easy to find another job," he said.

He said he doesn’t have safety shields in his car because they make some fares uncomfortable.

There are passengers who like to sit up front, he said, to have a personal connection with the driver.

Funeral arrangements are not known at this time. Mr. Kostin was married with two children, and had been planning on returning to Ukraine to start a business with his wife.

Mr. Kostin was last heard from when he went to pick up a fare at a store on Gaston Road in Dartmouth at around 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 17. The global positioning system in his cab was disconnected about 20 minutes later at the end of Johnston Road in Cherry Brook.

Mr. Kostin’s murder is now one of 12 unsolved killings in Halifax Regional Municipality since 2005.

It is among unsolved cases the provincial Justice Department has listed on its website. The department is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the death.

At least half a dozen cab drivers in the Halifax area have been killed or critically injured in the past decade.

98fb

Apr 5, 2009, 8:55 PM

Man gunned down in Est Van makes 26 and I believe there was a murder at UBC yesterday making it 27 for gangcouver.

mersar

Apr 5, 2009, 11:44 PM

Calgary likely has one more, two bodies were found in an apartment complex in Eau Claire, likely a murder-suicide.

raggedy13

Apr 6, 2009, 12:53 AM

According to... http://www.cbc.ca/bc/features/homicide/2009.html
...there have been 26 homicides in Metro Vancouver and 2 in Abbotsford but it doesn't include anything for April yet so I guess we're at 28 now taking recent news into account.

98fb

Apr 8, 2009, 6:51 AM

And it continues, man gunned down in upscale Vancouver neighbourhood. That makes it 29.

Unfrikinbelievable.

Rusty van Reddick

Apr 8, 2009, 2:58 PM

And it continues, man gunned down in upscale Vancouver neighbourhood. That makes it 29.

Unfrikinbelievable.

The CITY of Vancouver is on pace for 48 murders this year- which could give it a higher rate of murder than San Francisco or even LA and perhaps TRIPLE the murder rate of Seattle. Unspeakably higher than Portland as well- and at around 9 per 100,000 it would be the highest murder rate in a (major) Canadian city. Ever.

SteelTown

Apr 8, 2009, 3:05 PM

Two men beat victim to death
57-year-old found in Worsley Road home

April 08, 2009
John Burman
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/545190

STONEY CREEK – Hamilton police are hunting for two people they say administered a fatal beating to a 57-year-old Stoney Creek man Tuesday evening.

The victim – whose name has not been released – died following emergency surgery at Hamilton General Hospital.

His death is the city's second homicide of the year.

Detective Sergeant Steve Hrab, homicide unit case manager, said the man was unemployed and has lived alone for some time in the small Worsley Road home where police found him.

Police were sent to the home after someone inside called 911 to ask for an ambulance at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers found the injured man when they arrived, Hrab said, and realized his condition was “deteriorating rapidly”. He was rushed to hospital where he died following surgery.

Hrab would not comment on how many people were in the home at the time the man was beaten but he did say police believe he was assaulted by two men.

“This was not a random act,” he said. “We are pursuing the identification of those two people.”

He would not comment on the nature of the victim’s injuries or if a weapon was involved.

Hrab said police are trying to locate the man’s next of kin but have had no success so far.

His name will not be released until investigators have satisfied themselves they’ve made every effort to find family members, he said.

Police have the home under guard today. It is located on Worsley near Red Oak Avenue between Queenston Road and Barton Street east of Green Road.

PhilippeMtl

Apr 8, 2009, 4:30 PM

Montreal is at 5.

I think we will stay below 20 this year. Impressive for a population of 1.85 M.

I think Laval, the quiet suburb, is also at 5! How contradictive!

CANAUS

Apr 8, 2009, 8:58 PM

Toronto is at 12 after a domestic incident a couple of days back.

1ajs

Apr 8, 2009, 9:24 PM

winnipeg is only at 6 atm witch is down 3 from this time last year

mersar

Apr 9, 2009, 10:59 PM

Calgary is now at 11 following a shooting on Wednesday thats been ruled a homicide.

giallo

Apr 10, 2009, 2:55 AM

And it continues, man gunned down in upscale Vancouver neighbourhood. That makes it 29.

Unfrikinbelievable.

Good lord. And it isn't even the summer yet.

giallo

Apr 10, 2009, 3:53 AM

Not really the kind of international press Vancouver needs or wants right now. Sigh.

From heaven to hell: 18 die as drugs war rages on streets of Vancouver

The Canadian city has been named the best place in the world to live. But those halcyon days are over

By Paul Rodgers

Sunday, 5 April 2009

Vancouver's streets are now a battlefield for rival gangs, armed with automatic weapons, seeking dominance in the city's booming illegal drugs trade. There have been 50 shootings there in the past three months

AFP / GETTY IMAGES

Vancouver's streets are now a battlefield for rival gangs, armed with automatic weapons, seeking dominance in the city's booming illegal drugs trade. There have been 50 shootings there in the past three months

* Photos enlarge

Once upon a very recent time, Vancouver had a clean, safe image. Nestled between a spectacular bay and snow-capped mountains, this Canadian city, which is twice the size of Birmingham, was described by The Economist as the most liveable in the world. Not any more. As it prepares to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, what it's got now is not cuddly, eco-friendly publicity, but blood-spattered streets littered with shell casings and corpses.

Vancouver is the battlefield in a war between myriad drug gangs, which include Hell's Angels, Big Circle Boys, United Nations, Red Scorpions, Independent Soldiers and the 14K Triad. Guns – often machineguns – are fired almost daily. "We've always been told by media experts to never admit that there is a gang war," the chief of police, Jim Chu, said last month. "Let's get serious. There is a gang war and it's brutal." Vancouver's Mayor, Gregor Robertson, confessed that the police are fighting a losing battle. Since mid-January, the city has recorded 50 gang-related shootings, 18 of them fatal. And the violence is not confined to seedy neighbourhoods. The cross-fire is happening in quiet, residential cul-de-sacs and the car parks of up-scale shopping centres. It's a suburban civil war.

Nor are hardened criminals the only victims. An attack on one gangster's car killed a 24-year-old man hired to fit it with a new stereo. In February, Nicole Alemy, 23, the wife of another gangster, was gunned down in her white Cadillac – with her four-year-old son in the back seat. On Friday, police arrested James Bacon – one of three brothers who left the United Nations gang to join the Red Scorpions, intensifying the rivalry between the two – for conspiring in the deaths of four gangsters in their flat in Surrey, south-east of Vancouver. Two innocent men were forced from the hallway into the flat and also killed. Police said they intend to make more arrests over the weekend.

As Vancouver has boomed over the past two decades, attracting wealthy immigrants from across Canada and the Pacific, so too has the illegal drugs trade. It is now the third largest industry in the province, generating between C$7bn (£3.8bn) and C$8bn a year. A young, party-loving population with liberal attitudes to drugs has created strong domestic demand, while the province's mild climate and a ready supply of well-educated horticulturalists has led to supply of a premium brand of cannabis called "BC bud", produced mostly in hydroponic "grow-ops".

The drug's superior quality – "one puff and you're anaesthetised," reported one academic – also found favour with customers in the US, encouraging an imaginative corps of smugglers. Customs agents have found shipments in church vans, hollow logs and even kayaks. One enterprising crew emulated the prisoners of Stalag Luft III, digging a 110m tunnel "under the wire". The bigger problem for Canada, though, was the return trade. The US drug distributors preferred to pay in kind, with cocaine and guns.

Many commentators think Vancouver's violence is just a skirmish on the fringe of the much larger war in Mexico, where 6,000 were murdered last year as the state tried to reassert control over territories seized by drug lords. The result has been a 50 per cent rise in the price of cocaine in Canada, and correspondingly higher profits to fight over. But not everyone is convinced. Experts at Simon Fraser University argue that the problem is home-grown, and that it's exacerbated by police efforts to bang up mob leaders. "All you do is create vacancies as you put people in jail," said Ehor Boyanowsky, an associate professor of criminology. "Suddenly there's an opportunity."

In the short term, say the academics, Vancouver's problem is one of unco-ordinated enforcement. By one count, as many as 11 different agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and local police forces, were responsible for suppressing the drugs trade. The courts are almost as confused. Canadian justice is more tolerant than America's. No one has been successfully prosecuted for simple possession of marijuana in years, and Amsterdam-style hash cafés operate in a grey zone, only occasionally being shut down. Because of judicial leniency, officers prefer to see their targets collared in the US. The "Great Escape" gang were under surveillance on both sides of the border, but were arrested in Washington.

In the long run, many British Columbians, on both left and right, accept that legalisation and regulation are the answer. Just the sales tax on C$7bn of drugs would pay for several hospitals and schools, policing costs could be reduced, property crime by addicts to pay for their drug habits would be slashed, and the gang wars could be quickly reined in. "But the international politics are unbelievable," said Dr Rob Gordon, director of Simon Fraser's school of criminology. "The DEA [US Drug Enforcement Administration] starts to foam at the mouth at the idea of there being a huge, legal marijuana farm just north of the border. Under George Bush, the concensus was that if Canada ever moved to exercise its economic sovereignty, they would shut the border down by searching every vehicle."

Until then, the best hope may be that one gang or another comes out on top, allowing it to impose stability, much as the Hell's Angel's bike gang used to do up to 15 or 20 years ago. Professor Boyanowsky said: "Those were the good old days."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/from-heaven-to-hell-18-die-as-drugs-war-rages-on-streets-of-vancouver-1663008.html

98fb

Apr 11, 2009, 10:00 PM

I beleive they found a man in East Van couple days ago, Van is at 30 now!

DowntownWpg

Apr 14, 2009, 7:03 PM

Winnipeg Travel Advisory: brought to you by a realistic Winnipegger!

We came extremely close to three homicides by hatchet yesterday, broad daylight, right downtown.

In the MB & Sask section, they're talking about what is "World Class" in Winnipeg. I'd contend that the average Winnipegger is "world class" at recognizing the hostile and violent situation that we are in, and escaping dire situations with your life (most of the time). In short, we're world class at avoiding getting murdered by knives & hatchets!

P.S., the attack on Donald Street took place about a five to seven minute walk from the future site of the Human Rights Museum.... be sure to bring the family & kids for some Downtown Winnipeg tourism when it opens! (just be sure to wear a pair of good running shoes).

Hatchet-wielding teens involved in three robberies

A female credit union employee struck on the head by hatchet-wielding teenaged girls on Monday morning downtown was the third victim that day, Winnipeg police said this morning.

The employee was taken to hospital in stable condition.

The first attack occurred on McGee Street at about 6:35 a.m., when a woman was approached by two teenaged girls, one of whom was carrying a hatchet. The woman was assaulted and robbed of her purse.

Two hours later, another woman was walking near Vaughn Street and Ellice Avenue when police believe she was approached by the same two teens. After the girls threatened the woman, and demanded her valuables, she fled uninjured.

A short time later, a loans administration officer with Crosstown Civic Credit Union, fought teenaged girls who were trying to rob her on Donald Street. One of the attackers struck the woman in the head with a hatchet.

At least three passersby stopped to help the woman, disarming the teens who fled the scene.

Reports Monday afternoon said that as many as six teenaged girls had attacked the credit union employee.

Police said this morning that two 15-year-old female suspects have been charged with five counts of robbery with a weapon. They have been detained at the Manitoba Youth Centre.

Police said the investigation is continuing and more charges are pending.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Teens-attacked-three-women-with-hatchets-42968272.html

Kris22

Apr 15, 2009, 2:06 AM

^DowntownWpg, although I agree these attacks are disgusting, this is a thread about homicides...you really are blowing things out of proportion. If you read the article you yourself posted, you'll see that every person attacked was either uninjured or in stable condition. Hardly "extremely close to three homicides." I don't understand why you feel the need to report attacks in homicide threads.

vid

Apr 15, 2009, 7:11 AM

Someone robbed a drug store with about a dozen people in it the other day. That could have been a mass murder! Better stay out of Thunder Bay!

1ajs

Apr 15, 2009, 8:03 AM

hah we had a transit bus just get stolen tonight its now stoped and a k9 unit has been brought in this is crazy unny to listen to over the net scanner

Only The Lonely..

Apr 15, 2009, 4:26 PM

Passenger steals city bus (Source (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Passenger-steals-city-bus-43030427.html))

Winnipeg Free Press - April 15, 2009

Police are looking for a man who took a bus - literally.

At about 2 a.m. today, a city Transit driver alone on the bus at Main Street and James Avenue was confronted by an "unruly" passenger, police said.

"He refused to get off the bus," a police spokeswoman said. "The bus driver eventually did leave the bus. The male started driving away."

The bus was located in the North End a short time later. It was undamaged. No arrest have been made.

koops65

Apr 15, 2009, 4:58 PM

:previous: Someone should make a thread about crime in general, unrelated to homicides, where stuff like this can be posted.

98fb

Apr 15, 2009, 10:48 PM

Women found dead in Richmond, Metro Van at 31

LeftCoaster

Apr 15, 2009, 10:54 PM

women or woman?

DowntownWpg

Apr 16, 2009, 8:49 PM

:previous: Someone should make a thread about crime in general, unrelated to homicides, where stuff like this can be posted.

Good point. Next time a horrible crime event happens in Winnipeg, I'll create a thread here titled "Winnipeg Travel Advisories." It can be used to post heads-up for people planning or considering a visit to Winnipeg.

Might be a handy thread for outsiders, so as to get a sense of what times of year to avoid and other helpful tips (like being sure to wear running shoes at all times, as I mentioned).

I'm predicting an ugly summer.

Glad to be at your service,
DowntownWpg

P.S., Winnipeg probably doesn't seem as scary lately, due to the rampant chaos that Vancouver has seemingly become. Not that Winnipeg's getting better, but Vancouver is taking much of the crime spotlight off us. Geez, I hope Van is able to get a better grip in time for the Olympics, or it'll be a national embarrassment IMHO.

good_dude

Apr 18, 2009, 7:43 AM

P.S., Winnipeg probably doesn't seem as scary lately, due to the rampant chaos that Vancouver has seemingly become. Not that Winnipeg's getting better, but Vancouver is taking much of the crime spotlight off us. Geez, I hope Van is able to get a better grip in time for the Olympics, or it'll be a national embarrassment IMHO.

Actually Winnipeg is getting better so far. We are 6 homicides this year, down from 10 this time last year.

youngregina

Apr 18, 2009, 10:31 AM

Metro van is at a murder rate of 1.00 every 3.48 days. At this rate if things stay the same which hopefully they wont - metro van would be looking at 105 homicides for the year.

JuelzJones

Apr 19, 2009, 10:09 PM

Toronto is at 13 down from 19 last year i think...GTA is at 21......really low this year.....this summer is going to be bad though, i feel it for some reason.

adriancanada

Apr 20, 2009, 2:25 AM

It's amazing how well Toronto, and Montreal especially do in terms of murders and safety in general. Of course, even one murder is too much, but to have such a low rate is truly admirable for cities of this size! I hope this doesn't change and your prediction about the summer is wrong...

vid

Apr 27, 2009, 11:46 PM

Police investigate possible murder
tbnewswatch | April 27, 2009
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/Default.aspx?cid=7612

Police are investigating what could become Thunder Bay’s fourth homicide of 2009.

Joseph Kyle Kakeway, 19, died at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Saturday afternoon, 10 days after being the victim of an assault.

Thunder Bay Police Service officers were called to a laneway on Victoria Avenue East around 1:30 a.m. on April 15. The call involved a man lying on the ground. The man, later identified as Kakeway, was taken to hospital where he stayed until his death on Saturday.

A 20-year-old man was taken into custody outside of Newfie’s Pub for a breach-of-undertaking charge just before the 911 call regarding the laneway victim. The investigation into the laneway incident revealed that Kakeway was involved in an altercation with the 20-year-old police had arrested, police said.

Police charged the man with aggravated assault on the afternoon of April 25. He remains in custody and will appear in court on April 30.

A post-mortem examination of Kakeway was conducted Sunday.

"Now we’re waiting for the results of that post-mortem examination before we determine if further charges will be laid," Adams said.

:(

Architype

Apr 28, 2009, 5:35 AM

Thunder Bay has a "Newfie's Pub" ? ouch!

vid

Apr 28, 2009, 6:54 AM

It used to be located two blocks down from me, my uncle was killed beside it. A few weeks later it moved into the Empire hotel, which was condemned last summer and will probably be torn down later this year. (It's literally falling apart, there was chunks of brick around one corner this afternoon that wasn't there a few days ago, I think the NW corner is sliding down into the street.) It's now in a little building across from the east entrance of the Victoriaville Civic Centre, which used to be Armani's. They've put a smoking section right by the cross walk and cigarette butts are everywhere, there is a roof top patio area (which is apparently called "The Rock"; their logo is an outline of the island) and it plays mostly country music. There are tiles on the façade of the building that are falling off all over the place. Basically, everywhere that bar goes, it fucks up the building it is in.

It's a terrible place. Since it moved out of the Adanac (its original location), crime in this area has actually gone down! The centre of prostitution has shifted east, away from Simpson Street. It's amazing how one poorly run but perpetually operating dive bar can fuck up an area so much, or how an area can rebound once it is gone.

It was even replaced by a bar, but that bar doesn't cause as much problems as Newfie's did. The building also has 100% occupancy on the main floor, something it couldn't achieve while Newfie's was located in it.

98fb

May 2, 2009, 8:45 PM

Two teens gunned down in Abbotsford. Is Abby in the MV?

Metro Van now at 33 till someone corrects me.

youngregina

May 3, 2009, 7:31 AM

i wouldnt consider abbotsford to be in metro van. although the west coast express ends there but it is really quite far away.

Rusty van Reddick

May 3, 2009, 5:15 PM

Abbotsford is its own CMA. Not part of "metro," for statistical purposes.

O-Town Hockey

May 7, 2009, 1:42 AM

Ottawa had its 2nd murder of the year yesterday. This article from http://www.cfra.com is a short summary, but they had some gruesome details on the radio this morning. Sounds like he was beaten really badly and I believe the cause of death they are referring to would be the pieces of skull all over the room. No one deserves a death like that.

Police Investigate Lowertown Homicide
Caroline Franks
Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Police are investigating a homicide in Lowertown.

Officers found a man's body at a community housing apartment at 380 Murray Street, early Tuesday morning.

Constable Alain Boucher says two men were arrested and taken into custody for questioning, but police can't say at this point whether they are suspects or witnesses.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.

Dmajackson

May 7, 2009, 2:21 AM

I think Halifax is still at 3 homicides this year I believe but something interesting has been happening in the schools here;

In many seperate events two different schools have been shut down due to massive fights breaking out. The two schools serve the Preston area of HRM where a murder occured a few months back and is believed to be the main reason behinds the fights.

So far about 17 people have been arrested, a few sent to hospital and many more disciplined by their respective schools.

JuelzJones

May 7, 2009, 2:59 AM

Toronto - 17

GTA - 28

drizzo_613

May 7, 2009, 2:59 PM

3rd one for Ottawa

Cops ID victim of Market gun slaying
By Sun Media
Last Updated: 7th May 2009, 10:21am

Ottawa police are asking for witnesses to come forward and help their investigation into a double shooting overnight in the Byward Market which has an Ottawa man dead.

The victim has been identified as Mohamed Jama Ali, 26, of Ottawa.

Police say they were called to the scene at 1:13 a.m., and arrived to find two male victims. One had been shot in the stomach, the other in the left arm. Both were treated by paramedics and transported to hospital, where Ali later died. The name of the other victim has not been released.

The shootings took place along a section of the Market which contains many bars, clubs and shops. Police are focusing their work this morning at The Collection and Bar 56. Investigators have been inside the clubs this morning. Also in the complex is the Mercury Lounge.

Wishblade

May 13, 2009, 5:27 PM

2 more for Halifax...

Woman who's body was found in a school ground monday night, and a man in his 30's killed at a Dartmouth rooming house last night. I think that makes 5 this year so far.

98fb

May 13, 2009, 10:48 PM

Man killed in Surrey, Metro Van at 32

vid

May 14, 2009, 4:31 AM

A murder from 2007 (the one that happened on Christmas eve) is the first murder to have a trail by jury in a decade in this city. Some of the stuff coming out of that case are absolutely disgusting.

Loon-trial jury told of gruesome beating
©TBNewsWatch | May 13, 2009
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/Default.aspx?cid=8405

The jury of the Garnet Loon murder trial was told the accused repeatedly punched, kicked and beat victim Jordan Achneepineskum with a wooden object before forcing his stepdaughter to mop up the blood.

The jury heard Crown witness Kelly Campbell, former girlfriend of the victim and former stepdaughter to the accused, tell these gruesome details to investigators during a video-taped interview. That interview was shown to the jury as proceedings moved forward on day eight of the murder trial.

Loon, 33, is accused of second-degree murder for the 2007 Christmas Eve death of 18-year-old Achneepineskum.

Campbell, who was 17 years old at the time of her boyfriend’s death, told investigators on the tape that Achneepineskum was planning to buy her an engagement ring. Before that ring was purchased, the pair got drunk at a party at the Royal Edward Arms on May Street.

The Jury heard that the victim playfully bit Campbell on the neck. That apparently enraged Loon, the court heard. Campbell told police that Loon repeatedly punched the 18-year-old victim, threw him on the floor, kicked him, beat him with a stick, put a shopping bag over his head and then dumped him in a bathtub where the assault continued off and on.

The jury then heard that the accused made Campbell clean the floor of the fifth-storey apartment with bleach and a mop, and then put clean clothes on the victim.

City police later found the victim unconscious in the lobby of the building. He was pronounced dead in the hospital.

Campbell broke down in tears while she watched the video from the witness stand, which led assistant Crown attorney Trevor Jukes to stop the trial several times Wednesday.

The jury was later dismissed and sent home for the afternoon. The defence has not cross-examined Campbell.

The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday morning.

vid

May 15, 2009, 8:02 PM

Police on year’s fourth murder case
©TBNewsWatch | May 15, 2009
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/Default.aspx?cid=8495

Police have upgraded charges in what is now the city’s fourth murder investigation of the year.

Thunder Bay Police Service charged Jessie Patrick George, 20, with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 19-year-old Joseph Kyle Kakeway.

The victim died at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on the afternoon of April 25, police said.

The victim and accused were believed to be involved in an alleged altercation sometime before 1:30 a.m. on April 15. That altercation is believed to have taken place in a laneway along Victoria Avenue.

"After that altercation a charge was laid and that was initially aggravated assault," said Thunder Bay Police Service spokesman Chris Adams. "It is now, since the results of the post mortem results have been examined further, that an upgrade to the charge has occurred."

Jessie George appeared in court Friday and is expected to return June 8.

Police began investigating the first two murder cases of the year in January. The third murder investigation began in March.

This makes 4 the official count so far. The year isn't even half over.

98fb

May 20, 2009, 4:43 PM

Woman found dead in lighthouse. MV at 33.

giallo

May 21, 2009, 1:15 AM

Things seems to be cooling off in Vancouver. So, who won? The Red Scorpions or the United Nations?

vid

May 23, 2009, 9:34 PM

Homicide victim from Thunder Bay
The Canadian Press (via The Chronicle-Journal) | May 23, 2009
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/top_story.php?id=187568

WEST VANCOUVER, B.C. – A 43-year-old woman from Thunder Bay has been identified as the homicide victim found early this week in a rugged suburban Vancouver park.

West Vancouver Police say the body of Tammi-Lynn Louise Cordone was spotted Tuesday morning by a hiker in Lighthouse Park on Vancouver‘s north shore.

It‘s believed she was living in the park at the time of her death but police have not yet indicated how she died.

Homicide teams from the West Vancouver and Vancouver police departments weren‘t able to say Friday if the killing was random or targeted and urged anyone using the heavily forested, waterfront park to be cautious.

The incident is the second time in less than two months that a woman has been killed in a Metro Vancouver-area park.

On April 3, RCMP were called to Pacific Spirit Park near the University of B.C., after the body of 53-year-old jogger Wendy Ladner-Beaudry was discovered.

However, Cpl. Dale Carr said Friday investigators have compared notes and found the two murders are not related.

“Investigators from IHIT (the integrated homicide investigation team) have liaised with the investigative team looking into the murder at Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver and at this time have found no links to the Ladner-Beaudry homicide.”

He said officers will stay in touch as each investigation progresses.

NetMapel

May 23, 2009, 9:42 PM

Things seems to be cooling off in Vancouver. So, who won? The Red Scorpions or the United Nations?

Don't jinx it !

Dmajackson

May 25, 2009, 2:11 AM

Halifax is at about 6 or 7 murders with three occuring this month alone. This is due to an ongoing drug feud between the Melvins and another family. At least three people have died due to this feud since November and one family member has survived being shot at two times and not being hit another time! Just read this article and you'll understand how absurd this is;

Shooters target Melvin home
Shots fired at Fall River house of family patriarch
By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE and BILL SPURR Staff Reporters
Sun. May 24 - 1:15 PM
Metro’s month of violent crime is continuing.

A daytime shooting Saturday that targeted the home of Jimmy Melvin Sr. has police probing the possible connection to a feud between the Melvins and another notorious crime family in the Halifax area.

Shots were fired at about 1:50 p.m. at a house on 187 Philip Dr. in Fall River. An RCMP spokesman said one bullet struck the residence.

Several people were in the house at the time, police said, but no one was injured.

Investigators retrieved bullet fragments from inside the house and will do ballistics testing to determine what type of gun was used, said Cpl. Joe Taplin.

A black car, believed to be an Acura, was seen leaving the scene with one or two occupants.

Police are interviewing the people who were in the home at the time of the shooting, as well as neighbours.

"Anytime there’s a shooting, it’s really concerning to us," Cpl. Taplin told The Chronicle Herald. "And especially in residential areas — you know, innocent people are going to get hurt here and that’s very (worrisome) to us."

Saturday’s violence in a residential neighbourhood outside the city came less than 24 hours after another shooting in Halifax. A man was shot several times Friday night on Creighton Street but survived.

Cpl. Taplin said police are checking to see whether the shootings are connected.

This month has seen a spate of violent crime in Halifax Regional Municipality, including three murders.

CTV News reported that Jimmy Melvin Jr. was in the Philip Drive home at the time of the shooting Saturday but the RCMP couldn’t confirm it.

According to property records, the targeted house is owned by James and Deborah Melvin. It’s a single-family home assessed at $368,700.

The patriarch of the Melvin family, Jimmy Sr., is a convicted drug dealer in his late 40s. He has been sentenced to a total of 22 years and three months of federal prison time.

The Schwartzwald Heights subdivision has attractive-looking homes on large lots. Philip Drive is a long, straight, quiet street with stately houses that have basketball hoops or hockey nets in the driveways and well-tended gardens.

The driveway at 187 was filled with five vehicles Saturday at suppertime, including a BMW sedan, two SUVs, a pickup and a minivan, but there was no police tape, evidence markers or any other sign the house had been the target of gunshots.

The two-storey home has three trellises, a trampoline and concrete birdbath in one side yard, a clothesline out back and fencing on the other side of the house that appeared to screen an above-ground swimming pool.

A neighbour raking her front yard said she didn’t know who lived at 187. She said she had been out shopping for the afternoon so she hadn’t seen any police activity.

Asked about a potential link between the feuding Melvin and Marriott crime families, Cpl. Taplin said "that would be a part of the investigation" of Saturday’s attack.

With respect to the Melvin-Marriott feud, the trouble resumed last fall.

When Jimmy Melvin Jr., 27, got out of jail in November, he was ordered by the court to live at his parents’ house in Fall River. The young man later moved to Waverley and now lives in an apartment on Herring Cove Road in Spryfield. He faces various charges and must tell the court where he lives.

The younger Melvin has survived two shootings since his release.

Last Dec. 4, Jimmy Jr. was shot twice in the upper body outside an apartment building near Spryfield. Three men have been charged with attempted murder in that attack, which put him in hospital for days.

On April 24, he showed up at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax suffering from a gunshot wound.

He refuses to tell police where or how the shooting happened.

Last November, shots were fired at Jimmy Sr. outside a pizza shop on Herring Cove Road in Spryfield but he wasn’t hit.

A few days later, Melvin associate Jason Hallett was shot in the wrist in front of the IWK Health Centre in south-end Halifax.

The tit-for-tat violence prompted police to throw what they said were unprecedented resources at the problem.

The Marriott family name is listed three times on the Halifax Regional Police roster of unsolved murders, including Terry Marriott Jr., 34, who was shot and killed at a house in Harrietsfield in February.

Coun. Barry Dalrymple (Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank) said he’ll be seeking more information from the police as the investigation continues into Saturday’s shooting.

"I had a brief 30-second call (with the RCMP) – I don’t know any of the details," Mr. Dalrymple said in an interview.

"This is a residential neighbourhood," he said.

"So, I’m sure as people find out about this, they’re going to be shocked that it occurred here, as I’m sure they are in all neighbourhoods."

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for Saturday’s shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact any RCMP detachment, Halifax police or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or Secure Web Tips at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.

( mlightstone@herald.ca)

( bspurr@herald.ca)

mersar

May 25, 2009, 3:22 AM

Calgary is at 14 currently I believe, latest was the DJ at the after party for a dominoes tournament, the person of interest is another DJ.

1ajs

May 25, 2009, 3:27 AM

Ross Avenue stabbing is city's homicide #9
CJOB's John Copsey reporting
5/24/2009

A man stabbed in broad daylight in front of a Ross Avenue apartment block yesterday afternoon is the city's 9th homicide victim of 2009.

A police spokesman tells CJOB the unidentified man likely succumbed to his injuries sometime yesterday.

Police had cordoned off an area near a Ross Avenue apartment block, after the man was allegedly attacked by two males around 1 pm.

Witnesses say they saw the victim - described as a younger man in his 20's or 30's - lying on his back in the rear lane of a building at 477 Ross Avenue.

The man has been identified, but his name is being witheld pending notification of next of kin.

Dmajackson

May 25, 2009, 3:50 AM

Calgary is at 14 currently I believe, latest was the DJ at the after party for a dominoes tournament, the person of interest is another DJ.

Uh-oh I guess I better watch my back ;)

But seriously that is sad to see even DJ's have fatal competition.

blake10

May 25, 2009, 3:13 PM

<<A 23-year-old man attacked in broad daylight at a heavily travelled intersection early Saturday afternoon has died, Const. Jason Michalyshen said Sunday.Police have not released the name of the city's ninth slaying victim this year, pending notification of next of kin.

Police are saying little about how the man came to be lying on Ross Avenue just east of Isabel Street at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Michalyshen said the man died Saturday, though he was not aware when. Police were still saying at 10 p.m. Saturday that the man was in critical condition.

Michalyshen said that police were awaiting autopsy results before discussing how he died. Police are not saying whether they have a weapon, nor will they say how many suspects they're seeking.

"Our victim is of Winnipeg. This individual has very limited contact with police," said Michalyshen.

"There is information as to some kind of confrontation," he said. "It appears these individuals may reside in the neighbourhood."

Shocked residents who gathered at the scene Saturday said they did not recognize the victim.

They said police had been looking for a young man who reportedly had run north towards Alexander Avenue. They believed the man had been stabbed, though police will not confirm that.

It especially shocked residents that the slaying occurred on the street in the middle of the day.

Violence can happen anywhere at any time, and people should always be aware of what's going on around them, Michalyshen said.

"We have this thought process that things like this happen in back lanes in the middle of the night," he said.

"I've never heard of anything happening in the middle of the afternoon," said a shaken Jackie LaBelle, who gathered with friends outside their Ross Avenue building Saturday afternoon to watch police investigate. They'd earlier watched paramedics work on the man.

"It's sad, man, broad daylight, man, that shouldn't happen," said resident Kevin Raven, whose children were among several who watched the aftermath of the attack.>>

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-man-becomes-9th-slaying-of-09-45974912.html

It's scary to see more and more people being attacked in broad daylight. We've been lucky in the last few months and have had (relatively) few homicides here, but it seems as if someone is being taken to hospital in critical condition every other day from a shooting/beating/stabbing. Many of them have occured on busy streets in the middle of the day.

Here's two more stabbed last night...so far not a homicide, thankfully:

<<WINNIPEG - Police are investigating a double stabbing on Victor Street early this morning.

Police received call at about 5:30 a.m. of a stabbing in the 400 block of Victor Street.

Two people were taken to hospital in critical condition, and one person’s condition was later upgraded to stable, a spokesperson said.

The name, age, and sex of the two injured people were not disclosed. The police spokesperson said further details may be released at the regular police news conference later this morning.

Officers at the scene had Victor Street south of Ellice Avenue taped off for a distance of about 20 houses shortly before 7 a.m. Several of them could be seen going door to door canvassing neighbours for information.>>

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Two-stabbed-overnight-on-Victor-near-Ellice-45977887.html

DowntownWpg

May 25, 2009, 4:46 PM

:previous:

Since you posted that, one of the two in that incident has died... a 16-year-old girl.

I agree with you that broad daylight attacks, at least seem, to be increasing.

The thought of two 14-year-old boys going around, carefree, stabbing innocent people on the sidewalk of a well trafficked street just after noon is disturbing.

Unfortunately, I'm predicting an ugly and horrific summer for Winnipeg this year.

2 fatal stabbings in Winnipeg in as many days

Last Updated: Monday, May 25, 2009 | 11:19 AM CT
CBC News

Winnipeg recorded its 10th homicide of the year on Monday morning, just two days after a man was killed in a knife attack in another part of the city.

A 16-year-old girl died Monday after being stabbed in the upper body around 5:30 a.m. inside a house on the 400 block of Victor Street in the West End, according to police.

A 37-year-old man, who also suffered a stab wound to the upper body, was initially taken to hospital in critical condition but has improved to stable condition, said police, adding that an 18-year-old man is in custody and facing charges.

Police have not released the names of either victim from those stabbings.

The man killed in Saturday's attack, however, has been identified as Joseph Victor Mcleod, 23. Two 14-year-old boys have been charged with second-degree murder in his death.

The incident happened around 1 p.m. near the intersection of Ross Avenue and Isabel Street in the Centennial neighbourhood, just north of the downtown core.

Despite the deaths, Winnipeg's homicide rate is down compared with last year at this time, when there had been 17.

Also on Saturday, a 31-year-old man was attacked by a group of people in the Point Douglas neighbourhood around 9 p.m. near Euclid Avenue and Austin Street, police said.

The victim is in the hospital in stable condition. He was stabbed in the upper body during the assault, said police, who believe the attackers were armed with bats and knives.

No arrests have been made in that case.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/05/25/mb-stabbing-homicide-winnipeg.html

blake10

May 25, 2009, 4:58 PM

1ajs

May 25, 2009, 6:14 PM

still lower then this time last year but still sad hear about it

O-Town Hockey

May 26, 2009, 3:37 AM

PhilippeMtl

May 26, 2009, 3:52 PM

Montreal is at 8, the last one is a 67 years old asian woman attacked by 3 teenagers for theft in infamous Montreal-Nord.

Wishblade

May 26, 2009, 5:09 PM

Montreal is at 8, the last one is a 67 years old asian woman attacked by 3 teenagers for theft in infamous Montreal-Nord.

It's pretty sad when Halifax, a metro 1/10th the size of metro Montreal has just as many homicides so far this year :( .

DowntownWpg

May 26, 2009, 6:48 PM

Wow, the West needs to clean up it's act, my home town included (Regina). People need to stop talking about these crimes and murders as if they are happening to someone else and that they don't affect the city and its reputation. It's gonna take Winnipeg and Regina an entire generation to outlive the stigma they've developed over the past few years. It decreases the number of educated/skilled workers moving to the city, the amount of outside investment in condos/infrastructure, and I won't even talk about what it does to the tourism sector. I think people are starting to see that crime hurts everyone and, to deal with the crime, you need to deal with impoverished and marginalized populations (I think you know where I'm going with this one).
You make some good points. As well, hopefully negative attention that places like Regina & Winnipeg gets will inspire people to make it an issue of concern and press for the problems of poverty to be addressed. When we conveniently turn a blind-eye, the problems only perpetuate. If Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina and Edomonton's reputations have to be dragged through the mud on the national stage, so be it. If it helps make some more people realize the problems of poverty & crime, then that is worth it IMO.

I'm seriously considering getting a website built (with my own money) to warn potential tourists and business to avoid Winnipeg, due to the risk to their safety... with lots of updates, highlighting the danger zones, personal safety tips if they do come, etc.

Only The Lonely..

May 26, 2009, 7:22 PM

Wow, the West needs to clean up it's act, my home town included (Regina). People need to stop talking about these crimes and murders as if they are happening to someone else and that they don't affect the city and its reputation. It's gonna take Winnipeg and Regina an entire generation to outlive the stigma they've developed over the past few years. It decreases the number of educated/skilled workers moving to the city, the amount of outside investment in condos/infrastructure, and I won't even talk about what it does to the tourism sector. I think people are starting to see that crime hurts everyone and, to deal with the crime, you need to deal with impoverished and marginalized populations (I think you know where I'm going with this one).

The situation is totally overblown.

In most if not all the cases the victims knew their assailant.

I think there have been somewhere in the neighbourhood of a dozen homicides in Winnipeg this year.

Hell, more people probably die in Detroit during a long weekend.

Personally, i've lived here all my life and spend a good part of my day in the downtown / inner city and I've never head anything happen to me.

I'm seriously considering getting a website built (with my own money) to warn potential tourists and business to avoid Winnipeg, due to the risk to their safety... with lots of updates, highlighting the danger zones, personal safety tips if they do come, etc.

You're being just a little bit dramatic, don't you think?

DowntownWpg

May 26, 2009, 7:42 PM

:previous:

With homicide, yes, in a good deal of cases the victims knew their attackers. Murder is important to know about, but the crime I want to warn people about is not only limited to murder. I'm talking about all types of violent crime, particularly the random acts against innocent people. There's too much of that happening.

Winnipeg is Statistics Canada's violent crime capital (http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2009/04/22/9200166-sun.html)... there is much to warn people about!

Not to worry, however, I won't be too dramatic. There are many possibilities for satire and humour as well.

In my own way, if I do this, I'll be trying to make Winnipeg a better place... believe it or not!

Only The Lonely..

May 26, 2009, 7:53 PM

Winnipeg is Statistics Canada's violent crime capital (http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2009/04/22/9200166-sun.html)... there is much to warn people about!

Not to worry, however, I won't be too dramatic. There are many possibilities for satire and humour as well.

The keyword here is C-A-N-A-D-A'S murder capital.

This is a country where in lieu of a gun political dissenters will toss banana cream pie at their political masters.

Winnipeg, Edmonton and Regina have crime rates that would probably be the envy of just about anywhere else in the U.S.

98fb

May 26, 2009, 8:03 PM

Two men found in Van believed to be foul play, MV at 35 now.

DowntownWpg

May 26, 2009, 8:20 PM

The keyword here is C-A-N-A-D-A'S murder capital.

This is a country where in lieu of a gun political dissenters will toss banana cream pie at their political masters.

:haha:

Winnipeg, Edmonton and Regina have crime rates that would probably be the envy of just about anywhere else in the U.S.
We must always strive to improve our city, and my unit of comparative analysis is limited to Canada.

I think that Winnipeg is more dangerous, per capita, than most places in the US. But, ya gotta remember... the US is a big place, full of 20,000-40,000 pop. cities. We're probably more dangerous than the white picket fences "Anytown USA;" but certainly not as dangerous as places like East St. Louis, Detroit, parts of DC, parts of LA, etc.

This is probably a bad example, but I felt way safer in areas of NYC considered dangerous, than I do in Winnipeg. Okay, it is a bad example, half of the people on the streets were undercover Homeland Security. Maybe that's what Winnipeg needs - as a short-term fix - not just officers walking the beat, but undercover cops walking around too. Our criminals can spot a police uniform from blocks away, even though many are too drunk to see that far.... come to think of it, that is something for "Ripley's Believe It Or Not."

When the 2009 data is all out (in 2011, no doubt), I get the impression that Vancouver is going to, by far, take the lead in homicide. I'm watching it closely, cause I worry that Vancouver is going to make Canada an international embarrassment if those gangs are still shooting people so often - in broad daylight - during the Olympics.

O-Town Hockey

May 27, 2009, 1:51 AM

The keyword here is C-A-N-A-D-A'S murder capital.

This is a country where in lieu of a gun political dissenters will toss banana cream pie at their political masters.

Winnipeg, Edmonton and Regina have crime rates that would probably be the envy of just about anywhere else in the U.S.

Well, if you guys are happy being Canada's murder capital then it's all yours. It is all relative, but I wouldn't use the USA as your measuring stick. They have some of the worst stats in the Western world when it comes to poverty, violence, and maternal/fetal survival rates (a good measurement of how a country treats its most vulnerable). It appears you, like most in Canada's most "dangerous" cities are turning a blind eye the the crime. The crime-drugs-poverty-violence cycle is a vicious one and, if you don't stop it, the crimes will eventually start to affect the average resident (robbery, B&E, and yes murder).

drew

May 27, 2009, 4:17 AM

It appears you, like most in Canada's most "dangerous" cities are turning a blind eye the the crime. The crime-drugs-poverty-violence cycle is a vicious one and, if you don't stop it, the crimes will eventually start to affect the average resident (robbery, B&E, and yes murder).

How are WE going to stop it? The demographics in our society responsible for the overwhelming majority of these crimes (and the victims as well) are the responsibility of ALL Canadians.

The root causes of Winnipeg's crime problems (and other Western cities) starts in poor communities "up north" with social problems that are simply astounding. There is a whole NATIONAL system in this country that will need a massive overhaul before any real progress can be made regarding the poverty-violence cycle that you speak of, that plague cities like Winnipeg.

What are YOU doing to help progress in this issue?

Only The Lonely..

May 27, 2009, 2:25 PM

Well, if you guys are happy being Canada's murder capital then it's all yours. It is all relative, but I wouldn't use the USA as your measuring stick. They have some of the worst stats in the Western world when it comes to poverty, violence, and maternal/fetal survival rates (a good measurement of how a country treats its most vulnerable). It appears you, like most in Canada's most "dangerous" cities are turning a blind eye the the crime. The crime-drugs-poverty-violence cycle is a vicious one and, if you don't stop it, the crimes will eventually start to affect the average resident (robbery, B&E, and yes murder).

It must be nice to live in a city where everyone is caucasian and earns a nice income from being federally employed.

Nobody in Winnipeg or elsewhere on the prairies is ignoring the issue, but the real cause of the problem is how our federal government deals with native peoples.

This is something that folks in Ottawa and elsewhere have little or no understanding about.

I think you could probably count the number of aboriginals living within Ottawa City limits on two hands.

Conversely, in Winnipeg there's some places that you just don't go into as a white person unless you want to find trouble.

DowntownWpg

May 27, 2009, 8:02 PM

I've come to the thinking that it would be better if our levels of governments addressed poverty as a whole, rather than only focusing on poverty amongst First Nations. The policies, programs and services would be more inclusive that way. There can certainly be Aboriginal-specific methods at intake within their communities, such as engaging Elders to respect their culture. But ultimately the same services must be accessible across the board.

le calmar

May 27, 2009, 9:58 PM

I think the city of Montreal is at 8 murders so far.

O-Town Hockey

May 28, 2009, 12:08 AM

It must be nice to live in a city where everyone is caucasian and earns a nice income from being federally employed.

Nobody in Winnipeg or elsewhere on the prairies is ignoring the issue, but the real cause of the problem is how our federal government deals with native peoples.

This is something that folks in Ottawa and elsewhere have little or no understanding about.

I think you could probably count the number of aboriginals living within Ottawa City limits on two hands.

Conversely, in Winnipeg there's some places that you just don't go into as a white person unless you want to find trouble.

Ottawa demographics from the 2006 census:

Ethnic Origin Population Percent
Canadian 227,490 28.4%
English 194,845 24.3%
Irish 180,525 22.5%
French 172,165 21.5%
Scottish 158,340 19.8%
German 67,660 8.4%
Italian 39,230 4.9%
Chinese 34,435 4.3%
Polish 25,685 3.2%
Dutch 22,700 2.8%
North American Indian 21,600 2.7%
East Indian 20,525 2.6%
Lebanese 17,500 2.1%

Please note that Ottawa is not completely white (20.2% visible minority compared to Winnipeg's 16.3% and Regina's 14.3%) and that we have 21,600 residents of North American Indian origin (just under 3% of the population). As I mentioned, I am originally from Regina and regularly visit my relatives there so I am fairly well-versed on the aboriginal issues there. I believe that with Canada being such a large country with 3 distinct and often dysfunctional levels of government, people need to take some responsibility for their own community. I notice that people in Regina are all-too-happy to move the the edge of town (so they can be close to Walmart) and leave some very central areas to be swallowed by crime and gangs. There are some amazing programs in that city to engage aboriginal youth with the hopes of breaking the cycle and I just feel that too many people have too many stereotypes and preconceived ideas for progressive things to start to happen. I can't speak for Winnipeg as I've only visited there, but it seems they share many issues in common with Regina. Anyway, back to the body count....

1ajs

May 28, 2009, 12:08 AM

vid

May 28, 2009, 1:45 AM

Thunder Bay should be added to the Edmonton-Saskatoon-Regina-Winnipeg group. Acts of violent racism here have skyrocketed in the past few months. Council has a new document outlining ways to deal with the racism that will be present at the United Nations in a few weeks and our school boards have passed policies that will become provincial law a year from now, because the year is too long to wait. People are being pelted by objects from moving vehicles just for walking down the street, teaching assistants are assaulting children and murders are reaching levels we've never seen before. Both sides, native and non-native, are attacking the other side. Police have been patrolling a school in Port Arthur to prevent a race riot. In Canada.

And yes, most of this crime is by or against native people coming from the reserves up north, where living conditions are comparable to those in the third world. Children can't go to school in Attawapiskat because the government built it on top of a diesel spill and the fumes are killing children. In Canada.

This isn't right.

98fb

May 28, 2009, 5:03 PM

Burnaby parkade shooting victim Peter Adiwal fighting for his life

By Cheryl Chan, The ProvinceMay 28, 2009 6:40 AMComments (14)

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.theprovince.com/1638887.bin

A notorious B.C. gangster who may have been trying to turn over a new leaf is fighting for his life after being shot in a hail of gunfire in a Burnaby parkade.

Parminder "Peter" Singh Adiwal, who was pegged as a potential boss for the Independent Soldiers, was shot several times inside or near a black Porsche Cayenne at a high-rise condo complex in the 4100-block Dawson Street Tuesday night.

"He is well known to police and given his affiliation, we believe it is a targeted hit," said Cpl. Alexandra Mulvihill of the Burnaby RCMP.

Contacted Wednesday by The Province, Adiwal's uncle, Gurcharn Gharu, said his nephew has been trying to distance himself from the criminal lifestyle. "He was trying to do it, that's what I heard," said Gharu. "I don't get to talk to him much, but I heard he was trying to ... leave that behind."

The shooting has been very difficult for Adiwal's family, who were in hospital for most of the day yesterday, he said. "It's tough for them."

Yesterday, spots of dried blood and piles of shattered glass were still visible at the scene. Adiwal was shot in a section of the parkade reserved for visitors and retail customers.

Residents reported hearing several shots in two bursts of gunfire at around 10 p.m. "There were a lot of shots, at least 10 to 12," said James Nelson. "One of them sounded like a large-calibre weapon. To me, it sounded like a volley."

Nelson rushed down from his apartment to the ground-level parkade, where ambulance and police had converged after several people called 911. "The guy was moaning in his black SUV," said Nelson. "It looked like he was in pretty bad shape."

Paramedics, including the advanced life-support unit, performed CPR on Adiwal before transporting him to hospital, where he remains in serious condition.

Yesterday, RCMP were continuing to interview witnesses and are on the lookout for two vehicles — a dark blue or black minivan and a white cube truck — that fled after the shooting.

Sgt. Shinder Kirk, spokesman for the B.C. Integrated Gang Task Force, said they are well acquainted with Adiwal, but would not comment on whether Adiwal has been on their radar since he got out of jail in January 2007. "We're well aware of what he's done in the past, and his associations," said Kirk. "He's certainly well known and has been well known for many years to be involved in the criminal lifestyle."

Adiwal and his twin brother, Manjit "Mike," were the subject of a major police probe by the now-defunct Indo-Canadian Gang Violence Task Force into several unsolved gang-related killings in the Lower Mainland.

In 2005, Peter Adiwal was sentenced to seven years in prison for the drug-related kidnapping and aggravated assault of Sikhjit Singh Basi in 2003. Adiwal was released in January 2007 due to time served before trial after serving 18 months. At the time, police worried that a newly released Adiwal might be the catalyst for a bloody gang war.

Vancouver police believed Adiwal would take control of the Soldiers, a loosely affiliated gang involved in pot grow-ops, guns and cocaine, and unite them.

Yesterday, Kirk said police are always concerned about the possibility of retaliation when someone with a known criminal background is targeted. "That's always a concern when there's a violent episode involving someone who is known to be or have been in a gang or led a gang lifestyle," he said. "That's always a concern that there may be episodes of retaliation."

Since 1998, Adiwal has racked up several charges, including theft, robbery and gun possession, and had been convicted of possession of stolen property and being an occupant in a vehicle while there was a firearm.

Almost time to add another one to the list

Acajack

May 28, 2009, 5:21 PM

Acajack

May 28, 2009, 5:24 PM

And yes, most of this crime is by or against native people coming from the reserves up north, where living conditions are comparable to those in the third world. Children can't go to school in Attawapiskat because the government built it on top of a diesel spill and the fumes are killing children. In Canada.

This isn't right.

Thank you for raising this issue Vid. When one considers that the native population (often living in Third World conditions, as you rightly said) is growing much more rapidly than that of the non-natives, this is going to be a huge problem for Canada in the future. We've only seen the tip of the iceberg so far. But everyone seems intent on pretending it doesn't exist.

Acajack

May 28, 2009, 5:29 PM

The keyword here is C-A-N-A-D-A'S murder capital.

This is a country where in lieu of a gun political dissenters will toss banana cream pie at their political masters.

Winnipeg, Edmonton and Regina have crime rates that would probably be the envy of just about anywhere else in the U.S.

If you look at the numbers for U.S. cities you will see that there are in fact a number of large U.S. cities where the murder rate is generally lower than it is in the large cities of Western Canada. San Diego, Austin, Honolulu, Seattle, spring to mind.

Not saying this poster is, but Canadians who are often smug about crime statistics usually just point to the worst cities in the U.S. like Detroit, Baltimore, St. Louis, etc. These cities have been horribly blighted by near-fatal economic decline. There isn't anything near that type of despair in any Canadian city.

And as another poster said, if the U.S. is the only measure, then sure Canada looks great on the violent crime front. However, most of Western Europe (including very large cities like Paris and London) generally has violent crime and murder rates that are quite a bit lower than those found in Canada.

blake10

May 28, 2009, 5:32 PM

<<WINNIPEG – The family of a 53-year-old man found dead in his room at the Winnipeg Hotel last weekend believes a vicious attack cut Robert Genereaux's life short.

Randy Genereaux said the body of his brother was discovered early Sunday morning. The man was found in his bed, clad only in a T-shirt and underwear, covered in blood, he said.

Genereaux said he was told Wednesday by medical officials his brother suffered a fractured skull and broken jaw.

"He was literally beaten to death," Randy Genereaux said of the man friends and family knew as Bob.

"He doesn't even look like my brother. It doesn't look like him at all."

As of late Wednesday night, police had not released details of either a homicide or suspicious death at the Winnipeg Hotel.

But a source said investigators were seen coming and going from the Main Street hotel over the last few days. Bob Genereaux had spent the last four years living at the Winnipeg Hotel, said Randy Genereaux.

"Everybody knew Bob. Everybody loved him," he said. "He was a good-hearted guy and he'd give his shirt off his back for you."

He was also a fixture at Siloam Mission, where he was known as polite and friendly.

"He'd come in, have a quick chit chat, big smile and a friendly wave all the time," said director of patron services, Theresa Saunders. "We never ever saw anything but a positive side from Bob, a really friendly guy."

Saunders said she was told the death was "not natural" but was not aware of specifics. Bob Genereaux was one of eight children. Some live in Pine Falls, where the family has gathered for his funeral today. He has a 20-year-old son who shares his name.

He spent 15 years living on the Sagkeeng First Nation in Pine Falls but spent his final years in Winnipeg, Randy Genereaux said.

"I don't know what the reason is, why it happened," he said. "I really don't understand. I just hope somebody comes forward with some information to police."

The city has recorded 10 homicides this year, including two within the last week. On Saturday, Joseph Victor McLeod, 23, was stabbed to death in broad daylight near Ross Avenue and Isabel Street. Two 14-year-old boys are charged with second-degree murder.

On Monday morning, 16-year-old Angela Holm was stabbed to death in a home on Victor Street. An 18-year-old man is charged with second-degree murder.>>

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/family-believes-man-slain-in-hotel-46354427.html

So is this a homicide or not? Why are we just hearing about this now when it happened on the weekend?

DowntownWpg

May 28, 2009, 6:26 PM

To build on what O-Town Hockey answered, Ottawa also has some fairly large demographic groups (I won't name them but people from this area know who they are) that are visible minorities, are concentrated in a few areas of the city, and are plagued by endemic poverty and crime issues. Let me tell you, they *are* there.
A great example of what the Canadian "human rights" industry has done... made people too afraid to say what is on their mind, even if they are not committing a hate crime.

I'm sure what you would have said would not advocate or organize violence or commit a real crime against any particular group. But the whole mentality that some groups have "the right not to be offended" is absurd, and this is a great example of how that line of thinking is an affront to public debate. And, you have held back merely because saying a minority group is in poverty combined with high rates of crime would be offensive to that group. When, in actuality, you're merely stating your opinion - and an opinion that should not be considered criminal.

Make no mistake, I fully support human rights... real human rights. "The right to not be offended" is just plain BS and an attack on the freedoms of speech, expression, and academia.

Sorry... I know I'm off-topic here... but we've been talking this sort of thing quite a bit lately in the MB & Sask section. Got me all charged up!

vid

May 29, 2009, 9:12 AM

More charges laid for murder of Cat Lake woman
Steve Feeney | Wawatay News | May 28, 2009
http://www.wawataynews.ca/archive/all/2009/5/28/More-charges-laid-for-murder-of-Cat-Lake-woman_16846

A second person has been charged in the death of Barbara Loon.

Mary Keewasin-Gliddy, 22, of Wunnimin Lake, was arrested May 27 and charged with second-degree murder.

Keewasin-Gliddy is in custody and scheduled to appear in a Kenora court June 1.

Jemima Sakakeep, 37, of Sioux Lookout, was charged for second-degree murder May 15 in relation to the death of Loon, 34, of Cat Lake.

The Ontario Provincial Police Criminal Investigation Branch, the OPP Northwest Region Crime Unit and the Forensic Identification Unit are continuing with the investigation regarding Loon’s death.

Tally for Northwestern Ontario so far:

January 1: Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug
January 15: Thunder Bay (1st)
January 23: Thunder Bay (2nd)
February 20: Kasabonika
March 21: Thunder Bay (3rd)
March 25: Kenora
April 15: Thunder Bay (4th)
May 9: Sioux Lookout

That is 8 murders in 5 months. Northwestern Ontario has a population of 235,000 people. This has been a terrible year.

Acajack

May 29, 2009, 2:04 PM

A great example of what the Canadian "human rights" industry has done... made people too afraid to say what is on their mind, even if they are not committing a hate crime.

I'm sure what you would have said would not advocate or organize violence or commit a real crime against any particular group. But the whole mentality that some groups have "the right not to be offended" is absurd, and this is a great example of how that line of thinking is an affront to public debate. And, you have held back merely because saying a minority group is in poverty combined with high rates of crime would be offensive to that group. When, in actuality, you're merely stating your opinion - and an opinion that should not be considered criminal.

Make no mistake, I fully support human rights... real human rights. "The right to not be offended" is just plain BS and an attack on the freedoms of speech, expression, and academia.

Sorry... I know I'm off-topic here... but we've been talking this sort of thing quite a bit lately in the MB & Sask section. Got me all charged up!

For the record, I am not “afraid” of referring to anything or anyone. Provided that it’s relevant to the discussion. In this case, the responses came as a result of a comment that Ottawa was pretty much an all-white city and that this partly explained its lower violent crime rate when compared Winnipeg’s. But I don’t see why pointing out that Ottawa in fact has a quite diverse population (perhaps more so than Winnipeg even), and that certain communities within Ottawa faced major socio-economic challenges, required me to finger-point any of these specific groups in a national forum.

DowntownWpg

May 29, 2009, 6:30 PM

:previous:

Got 'ya! Sorry to make assumptions. It has been a topic on my mind a lot lately.

1ajs

May 29, 2009, 6:35 PM

why is winnipeg related stuff being bolded ?

O-Town Hockey

May 29, 2009, 11:51 PM

why is winnipeg related stuff being bolded ?

lol, I noticed that too. I think it's a huge online conspiracy trying to propagate the image of Winnipeg as a dangerous city. Seems to be working so far. Pretty soon 1ajs will join a gang and start pimping.

1ajs

May 30, 2009, 12:12 AM

winnipegs got its issues

canada as a whole faces these issues just alot of the time thy are dumped on us by the reserves who kick people off them or other cities give these people a one way ticket to winnipeg to get rid of them its stupid

then theres the kids that grow up in broken homes and nothings done about it and those that do get taken out are no better off cause u get greedy people that just do it for the money

MTLskyline

May 31, 2009, 2:38 AM

9 murders now in Montreal, compared to 11 at this time last year.

98fb

May 31, 2009, 4:23 AM

MAPLE RIDGE, B.C. — Police on Saturday released the name of a man gunned down in the street who managed to drive himself to hospital but died early Friday.

Sarbjit “Steve” Nagra has a 10-year criminal record that includes charges of threatening students with a shotgun and defrauding the Insurance Corporation of B.C.

Nagra was shot Thursday night in the 11400-block of Maple Crescent, a residential neighbourhood of Maple Ridge. After the shooting, Nagra drove himself to Ridge Meadows Hospital at about 8 p.m.

He died 3 a.m. Friday after being transported to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster.

Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said the killing has the hallmarks of a targeted shooting, although it’s too early to tell if it’s gang-related.

“It certainly has the signature of being targeted. What remains to be seen is the rationale behind it,” said Carr.

The shooting took place on the street and not a residence, and Carr said it appears no one else was at risk.

Investigators have not found any links between this shooting and a shooting in Burnaby on Tuesday, which left gangster Parminder “Peter” Singh Adiwal, who has connections to the Independent Soldiers, in serious condition.

IHIT investigators have seized Nagra’s dark-coloured SUV for forensic testing.

No suspects are in custody.

Nagra first made the news in May 1999 when he was arrested and accused of threatening a group of Terry Fox Secondary School students with a shotgun.

Nagra, then 19, was charged with pointing a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon and storing a firearm contrary to regulations in connection to the confrontation near the school.

But he was only convicted of a breach of an undertaking and sentenced to 14 days in jail.

In the years following, Nagra accumulated convictions for inflicting “fear of injury,” theft under $5,000 and uttering threats.

Nagra made the headlines again in 2007 when he was convicted of defrauding ICBC.

He entered a guilty plea for refusing to supply a breath sample and providing a false and misleading statement.

The plea stemmed from an incident in April 2005 when Nagra was driving his father’s Honda Civic and struck a telephone pole.

He fled on foot but police found him a short distance away. Police said Nagra refused to give a breath sample and denied any knowledge of the crash.

Then, while making his claim to ICBC, Nagra said the keys to the Civic had been stolen while he was at a nightclub and that he had gone home with a friend.

However, a witness to the crash identified Nagra as the driver who fled the scene.

Nagra was sentenced to a one-year driving suspension, fined $2,000 and was ordered to repay ICBC $11,452, the cost of replacing the vehicle.

MV at 36