Man charged with 2nd-degree murder in connection with Brandon hammer attack

A man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 28-year-old man in hospital days after he was pulled from a burning building.

Eric Lepine died at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg on Wednesday after he was injured during an attack on Nov. 12, a Brandon police news release said on Friday. 

Ryan Mecas, 32, was arrested on the day of the attack and charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and arson with disregard for human life. Police announced Friday that he has now also been charged with second-degree murder.

Brandon police received a report of someone attacking people with a hammer on 15th Street, between College and Park avenues, on Sunday around 1:15 p.m. Officers who responded to the call arrested Mecas nearby.

A second 911 call came in about a house fire on the same block. Brandon firefighters responded and after witnesses said a man who'd been attacked with a hammer was inside, they pulled Lepine from the burning house, police said.

He had suffered severe head trauma from "multiple hammer strikes" and was taken to Brandon Regional Health Centre before being airlifted to HSC in Winnipeg in critical but stable condition, police said.

He died at HSC on Wednesday and Mecas, who was being held in custody, was then charged with second-degree murder.

Investigators believe the fire was deliberately set with accelerants; police say they found a can of accelerant and a hammer at the scene. 

Officers also found a second person who suffered minor head injuries from a hammer attack, police said.

Mecas appeared in court on Thursday.

The victims and suspect knew each other, police said. 

Brandon police Sgt. Kirby Sararas said it isn't clear what led to the attack.

"Generally speaking, we are seeing an increase in certain types of offences where there is an underlying issue with regards to [addiction] and/or mental health," Sararas said. "Policing can't really address those types of issues."

Sararas also said Brandon is in the midst of an "unprecedented amount of homicides," with six so far this year.

"Our members are definitely very skilled and able to investigate these kind of situations," said Sararas.

"But … it does take a toll on the members seeing this much violence constantly and seeing all the families that have been hurt by this violence."

More from CBC Manitoba: