'Terrible year for the city' as Winnipeg sees 43rd homicide

A deadly assault on Christmas Day marks Winnipeg's 43rd homicide, putting the city at a new record — yet again. 

"[It's a] terrible year for the city," Const. Rob Carver said on Friday. "I think we're all shocked. Forty three is a record for the city, a record no one wants to have."

The previous record was 41 homicides in 2011.

The death of Gordon Edward Pashe, 37, on Dec. 25 is believed to be gang related and may be connected to a police standoff half a block away that started shortly after they found Pashe injured.

Police wouldn't confirm how Pashe died.

Carver said officers were driving when they spotted Pashe lying on the sidewalk near the intersection of Salter Street and Redwood Avenue in the city's North End. They began performing first aid.

He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, police were told there was an armed man in a home on Redwood Avenue between Salter and Aikins streets — about half a block from where they found Pashe.

Tactical officers, the police armoured vehicle and other police vehicles were sent to the residence, cordoning off the block to traffic for two hours. 

"We ended up surrounding the house. The tactical support team came out. People weren't responding to our requests that they come out," Carver said on Wednesday.

At one point, tactical officers drew their weapons and used the loudspeaker on the armoured vehicle to demand people inside the home come out.

• Armoured vehicle, tactical officers converge at North End home on Christmas Day

Carver said they didn't find an armed person, but took four people into custody. No charges were laid.

Pashe was known to police, as were the people police dealt with at the standoff.

Neighbours said the home was divided into different units.

Tannys Tomasz lives across the street. "We don't really talk to them. We kind of keep to ourselves. It's better that way," she said.

Richard Rogowski also lives across the street and knows one resident of the home.

"He came by and he told us what happened. He said. 'I can't even go and get my Christmas presents. I can't get my clothes for two days,'" said Rogowski.

Second Christmas homicide in as many years

It's the second year in a row that Winnipeg has had a homicide on Christmas Day. 

"The date behind it is irrelevant in terms of investigators, in terms of the fallout for the family. They're all tragic," Carver said.

The homicide unit investigating. Plainclothes officers attended the site on Friday.

Anyone with information that might help investigators is asked to call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).