Members of the Homicide Unit have charged an adult male for an apartment building fire on Christmas Day that resulted in the death of two individuals.
Investigators believe that on December 25, 2022, the accused lit two fires in a suite in the 300 block of Qu’Appelle Avenue.
The first fire, at approximately 12:19 a.m., was minor and put out by a single Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) crew using a pail of water and a pump can. No injuries were reported, and the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) was not involved in the incident.
The second fire, at approximately 4:03 a.m., was more significant and engulfed the suite – causing heat and smoke that spread throughout the building. WFPS members fought the fire from inside while simultaneously searching suites and evacuating residents.
Six individuals were transported to a hospital: three in critical condition, one in unstable condition, and two in stable condition. Two of those victims later succumbed to their injuries and have since been identified as Roger Glen Doblej, a 63-year-old male of Winnipeg, and Suzanne Helen McCooeye, a 70-year-old female of Winnipeg. The other victims included three males and one female between the ages of 47 and 79.
It is also believed that the accused is responsible for a garbage bin fire on December 10, 2022, at approximately 12:04 p.m. in the 300 block of Kennedy Street. The WFPS extinguished the fire, and damage is estimated at $500.
Ethan Gage Shaydon Powderhorn, a 26-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with:
- Second Degree Murder (x2)
- Arson with Disregard for Human Life (x4)
- Arson Causing Damage to Property
He was detained.
As previously released by the WFPS:
At 4:08 a.m. on December 25, 2022, the WFPS responded to reports of a fire in a six-storey apartment building in the 300 block of Qu’Appelle Avenue.
When crews arrived to the scene, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. Due to the potential for high life hazards when dealing with a large structure, a second alarm was called which increased the number of crews on scene.
Crews received numerous reports indicating there were occupants trapped in the building. Reports also indicated that multiple residents with disabilities required assistance in evacuating.
Firefighters fought the fire from inside the building while simultaneously searching suites and evacuating residents. Paramedics assessed, treated, and transported six individuals to hospital: three in critical condition, one in unstable condition, and two in stable condition.
Winnipeg Transit deployed buses to the scene to provide shelter for evacuees. The City of Winnipeg’s Emergency Social Services team was deployed to the scene to assist 42 displaced residents in finding temporary accommodations.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage estimates are not available at this time.