Manitoba

Man arrested, charged with 2nd-degree murder in death of Cyril Weenusk

Geordie Douglas Wood of St. Theresa Point, Man., was arrested on Friday at the Winnipeg remand Centre where he was being detained on unrelated charges.

Geordie Douglas Wood was arrested Friday

A pile of clothing lies near a bus shelter on Portage Avenue as police investigate an homicide in downtown. (Trevor Brine/CBC)

A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the beating death of Cyril Weenusk in Winnipeg's downtown last week.

Geordie Douglas Wood of St. Theresa Point, Man., was arrested on Friday at the Winnipeg Remand Centre where he was being detained on unrelated charges.

Police issued a warrant for Wood's arrest on Wednesday, just over a week after Weenusk was killed.

Weenusk, a 26-year-old father of four from the Bunibonibee Cree Nation in Oxford House, Man., was found injured near Portage Avenue and Donald Street around 3:50 a.m. on July 5. He later died in hospital.

Cyril Quentin Weenusk, 26, of Oxford House, Man. (Family photo)
Police closed part of Portage Avenue for seven hours that day to investigate the attack.

Police have said that Weenusk got involved in an altercation with a group of people he did not know.

Last week, investigators said they were looking for at least three suspects. This is the first arrest in the case.

Family members have said that Weenusk, who worked as a firefighter and delivered water to homes that had no running water, went to Winnipeg that week to accompany his father to chemotherapy and dialysis appointments.

Police are still investigating and have asked anyone with information to contact investigators at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.