Family, community come together around sacred fire for support in wake of rooming-house killings
Aunt remembers 2 slain sisters as happy jokesters who 'didn't deserve' fate that befell them
About 80 people gathered around a sacred fire Tuesday evening in Winnipeg's North End to pay their respects and support the families of five victims of a mass shooting early Sunday morning at a West Broadway rooming house.
Four people were killed and one other remains in hospital. Family members of two of the dead, sisters Crystal and Stephanie Beardy who are originally from Lake St. Martin First Nation, were among those at the vigil.
"This is a tragedy to us all," Roberta Owen, Crystal and Stephanie's aunt, told reporters. "It's a big tragedy to all that are involved."
Owen, who lives in Winnipeg, comforted her sister Beverley Beardy, the mother of the women killed, as community members drummed, gave offerings of tobacco along with prayers for the families outside the Ma Mawi Centre on King Street.
"It helps a lot," Owen said. "It's not going to take any pain away, we have to grieve, we have to feel it. Everything still has to go on in our lives. It's just hard right now."
Winnipeg police have not announced any arrests in the case, which Owen said has left her sister feeling unsafe.
"My sister was scared to come here thinking someone was going to come here and (cause) harm." Owen said. "We had to tell her it's not going to be. There's, I'm sure, police surveillance all around here."
WATCH | Sacred fire honours victims of mass shooting:
Police had few new details Tuesday but officers remained at the rooming house which was still surrounded by yellow tape. Forensics officers are expected to be at the scene for an extended period due to the nature of the crime.
"Forensics play a considerable role in any investigation, no different in this case," Const. Jason Michalyshen said in an email to CBC. "Witness accounts and tips from the public assist us immensely. The pace of an investigation can vary; they can evolve over days, weeks or even months."
Investigators do not know why the victims were together in the suite at the rooming house. The property owner told CBC News none of them were tenants.
Police also have not confirmed whether a single person shot all of the victims or whether there were multiple shooters.
Nieces had happy spirits, aunt says
Owen said her nieces' deaths have taken a big toll on the family and has left their mother numb. Crystal was a mother of two boys and was living in Winnipeg, while Stephanie, a mother of two girls, was visiting the city from Lake St. Martin.
She described her nieces as jokesters, who had happy spirits and were always laughing, which is how she wants them remembered.
"There was stuff said they're known to police, even if they are known to police, you know, it's life, right," Owen said. "They're not just people that got in trouble with the law. These were mothers, these were sisters, these were cousins, these were aunties."
"They're human just like anybody else and they didn't deserve none of this."
Her family doesn't know the details of what happened but wants whomever was responsible brought to justice.
"That's all we can hope for, pray for," Owen said.
Brad Beardy, a band councillor with Lake St. Martin First Nation, said the community is supporting the families "affected by this horrible crime."
"There's a big impact in Lake St. Martin," said Beardy, who described himself as a distant relative. "Me personally, it's tough. I have no word inside me to tell the family, to give them comfort. It's very difficult."
'Heartbreaking': West Broadway Bear Clan co-ordinator
Earlier Tuesday, Angela Klassen, co-ordinator of the West Broadway Bear Clan, lit five candles for the victims and smudged outside 143 Langside St., the scene of the shooting, to pay respects to their families.
"This is devastating for our community. This is a community I love and call home," said Klassen, who's lived in the neighbourhood for 25 years.
"It's a heartbreaking situation."
She said some people are still reeling in the wake of the homicides and Klassen said she's concerned for people in the neighbouhood which the community-based patrol group has been focusing efforts on in recent years.
"We've tried over the last six years that Bear Clan's been in the area to make it a safer place, and you know, it's just hard when there's people that are trying to do good in this neighbourhood and to keep the neighbourhood thriving and flourishing and growing," Klassen said.
She said the group will be in the area giving its full attention to West Broadway to help people feel safer over the next few weeks.
"Our main focus will be here," Klassen said, adding that while it's a wonderful place to live, it's a neighbourhood which needs more support from volunteers to help keep it safe.
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With files from Alana Cole, Karen Pauls and Cameron MacLean