Another arrest made in Portage la Prairie double homicide of man and woman

A second man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the December deaths of a man and woman in Portage la Prairie.

Jeremy Whincup, 54, was arrested and charged on March 5. Preston Whitford, 30, was arrested and charged in January with the same offences.

Both men are from Portage la Prairie, about 80 kilometres west of Winnipeg.

Police are still searching for the gun or guns that were used, RCMP said in a news release on Friday. It's the first time police have said the homicides, which they say were targeted, involved guns.

A 42-year-old man and 37-year-old woman, who were in a relationship, were found dead inside a home on Oak Bay on Dec. 1.

Mounties previously said two people visited that home and sped off in a maroon SUV a few hours before the victims were found dead.

The two victims were not identified to the public by police, but the family of the woman identified her as Emily Smoke.

RCMP previously said the 42-year-old man was active in the drug trade and had a criminal history, but told CBC News in January that they cannot connect the killings to the drug trade at this time.

CBC News is not identifying the man at this time.

Anyone with information that may be useful in the recovery of the guns is urged to call the Manitoba major crime services tip line at 431-489-8106.

Anonymous tips can also be called in to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submitted online.