5 violent incidents in Thunder Bay, Ont., in May don't appear to be related, police say

Police in Thunder Bay are making "active progress" in their investigation of four homicides and one serious assault that occurred in the northwestern Ontario city over the last month.

"I, of course, acknowledge a community concern," Det.-Insp. Jeremy Pearson said during a media event on Thursday. "Violent crime, particularly violent crime in rapid succession, is a source of concern, and it would be disingenuous to suggest that it shouldn't be.

"As a member of this community, [I take] comfort in the fact that these investigations are ongoing, that progress is being made, arrests are being made, scenes are being processed and released," he said, adding the investigations remain active.

The most recent homicide was Wednesday. Police were called to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre just before 3 a.m. ET after a 19-year-old man arrived with serious injuries.

The man, who was identified Friday afternoon as Tyrese Belmore from Sioux Lookout, later died.

Police are holding scenes at a residence on Shipley Street, where the incident took place, and Brock Street. Police said the latter address is connected to the investigation, but no further details were provided.

"Our officers are working around the clock on this investigation," Thunder Bay police Det. Sgt. Jason Rybak said Thursday, adding a post-mortem is scheduled in Toronto for Friday morning.

"Both of our scenes on Shipley and Brock will be held pending the results from the post-mortem, and examination by our forensic investigations unit."

Police are also investigating a homicide May 23 at an apartment in the 1400 block of Balmoral Street. The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Cody Bulmer.

Josh Kakegamic, 44, turned himself in to police on Tuesday and has been charged with second-degree murder.

Another man identified as a suspect, 35-year-old Daniel Blais, remains at large. Rybak said Blais is believed to still be in Thunder Bay.

Police are also investigating a shooting on Pearl Street that left 41-year-old man James Chapais dead on May 15.

Two people have been charged and a suspect remains at large.

Police are also investigating the killing of Adrian Anthony Richardson, a 29-year-old found with serious injuries in the 400 block of Hodder Avenue on May 2.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, and police said a firearm was involved. Police have said they're searching for three suspects believed to be involved.

Incidents unrelated

Police also made an arrest in an assault in the 200 block of May Street North at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday.

A 22-year-old Toronto man who has been charged with aggravated assault was expected in court Friday.

Rybak said the apparent assault involved a blunt weapon, and the person is in the intensive-care unit, but his condition was stable on Thursday.

Pearson said police believe the city's illicit drug trade was a factor in at least some of the incidents.

"At this time, there's no indication to us that any of these incidents are related to one another," Pearson said. "So in terms of an overarching pattern, we have to approach each investigation as an individual investigation after devoting appropriate resources to it."

Anyone with information about any of the investigations is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.