Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision/Firearm – Arrests: C22-210732

On September 12, 2022, at approximately 11:30 p.m., General Patrol officers responded to a serious motor vehicle collision at Grey Street and Munroe Avenue. One of the vehicles (containing three occupants) collided with another single-occupant vehicle and then crashed into a hydro pole.

Police attended to both vehicles and began emergency medical care. Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was required to extract the occupants from the first vehicle. The male driver and a passenger from the first vehicle were transported to hospital in unstable condition. The third passenger, a male in his twenties, was transported to hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries.

The lone adult male driver of the second vehicle was transported to hospital for precautionary measures but was ultimately not injured.

A loaded sawed-off shotgun was located in the first vehicle.

Cainin Cole XAVIER (45) of Winnipeg was charged with the following offences:

- Operation of a Conveyance Causing Death While Impaired to Any Degree by BAC or Drug or a Combination of Both
- Causing Death by Criminal Negligence
- Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance Causing Death
- Possession of a Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammo Contrary to Order x 3
- Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle
- Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x 2
- Possession of a Weapon
- Store Firearm or Restricted Weapon Contrary to Regs

Gordon William KOVICH (32) of Winnipeg was charged with the following offences:

- Possession of a Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammo Contrary to Order x 4
- Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle
- Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x 2
- Possession of a Weapon
- Store Firearm or Restricted Weapon Contrary to Regs

XAVIER remains hospitalized, and KOVICH was detained in custody.