Update:
On June 24, 2022, Leah Carol CLIFTON was arrested at a residence in the 500 block of Spence Street. CLIFTON had outstanding warrants for the homicide of Heather Beardy on February 2, 2022, and the homicide of Doris Trout on May 19, 2022.
CLIFTON has been charged with Second Degree Murder x 2 and detained in custody.
These two homicides were unrelated; however, the accused CLIFTON and both victims were acquaintances and involved in the drug subculture.
Update:
On June 28, 2022, at approximately 12:15 p.m., members of the Homicide Unit arrested and charged a 37-year-old male, Leslie John MARACLE of Winnipeg, for the murder of Aaron Ashton MCKAY.
He has been charged with the following offences:
- Second Degree Murder
- Possession of a Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon Contrary to Order x 2
He was detained in custody.
On June 28, 2022, at approximately 5:00 p.m., North District officers responded to the report of a shooting outside a residence in the 300 block of Mountain Avenue.
Police met with a resident who advised that their dog had been shot by two unknown suspects who fled on foot. The animal was transported to a Veterinary hospital for emergency medical care and treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
On June 28, 2022, at approximately 11:30 p.m., North District officers, with the assistance of the River Patrol Unit and AIR1 responded to the northside of the Redwood Bridge for the report of a female in distress who had mounted the bridge and entered the water.
The River Patrol (RPU) ascertained her location and brought the boat nearby, with supporting members along the riverbank. In complete darkness the female was located in the quick moving current. An RPU Cadet member entered the water to engage in a rescue, and applied a personal flotation device to the female.
On June 29, 2022, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Winnipeg Police Service responded to the report of a stabbing outside the Forks Market.
Officers located three adult victims in their twenties. Two adult males had been stabbed, transported to hospital in critical condition, and later upgraded to stable condition. The female victim was not stabbed but treated for minor injuries.
With the assistance of the Tactical Support Team, six suspects in the area were taken into custody (four youths and two adults).
On Friday, June 24, 2022, the Winnipeg Police Service issued a press release regarding an investigation conducted by the Counter Exploitation Unit called Project Bluff.
The press release spoke generally about the issue of Human Trafficking, and the methods used by some human traffickers. The release then went on to discuss a specific investigation which resulted in a conviction. Concerns have been raised that confusion may result that the general information provided was the same as the facts in the specific case leading to a misunderstanding of the conviction.
On June 26, 2022, police entered into an investigation after a bus driver, and a passenger was assaulted with bear spray aboard a bus travelling southbound on Main Street at approximately 10:30 p.m. A male suspect incited an argument with an unknown female passenger. The driver stopped to diffuse the situation when he and the female were subsequently assaulted with bear spray. The suspect then kicked and broke the bus's front doors and made his escape.
The two victims were treated for their exposure to bear spray.
On June 27, 2022, at approximately 8:00 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service responded to a parking lot in the Forks Market for an assault in progress.
General Patrol officers arrived and met with two adult victims (a father and daughter) who reported being confronted by a group of unknown females who demanded money. The suspects began punching and kicking the male victim's head when he did not provide money. His daughter called 911, and the group began assaulting her, smashing her phone, then running away.
On June 26, 2022, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the Winnipeg Police Service responded to the report of a shooting at a residence in the 500 block of Alexander Avenue.
Officers located an adult male with a gunshot wound and provided emergency medical care. The victim was transported to hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries.
The deceased has been identified as 31-year-old Aaron Ashton MCKAY of Winnipeg. Investigators believe there was a gathering of people at the residence when MCKAY was shot.
Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) members have made arrests in two unrelated fentanyl trafficking investigations.