Man in custody after woman attacked, killed in St. Boniface

Winnipeg police have confirmed reports of a homicide after a woman was attacked at a home on Hill Street in St. Boniface early Saturday morning.

Officer injured trying to arrest, detain 25-year-old suspect

CBC News Posted: Sep 20, 2014 11:14 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 22, 2014

Paramedics attend to an injured person early Saturday morning in St. Boniface. CBC has confirmed a woman was the victim of a homicide after she was stabbed. (CBC)

Winnipeg police have confirmed a woman was the victim of ahomicide after she was attacked at a home on Hill Street in St. Boniface early Saturday morning.

Police said a weapon was used but they refused to specify what it was. Sources toldCBC earlier Saturday the woman was attacked with an axe, but police confirmed Sunday the weapon was in fact a knife.

Police were called to the scene around 4:30 a.m. by a woman, but they wouldn't say if it was the victim who called.

Police said they found a woman in the lower level of the house with serious upper body injuries.She was taken to hospital in critical condition but died of her injuries.

They said one of the first officers on the scene encountered the suspect near Caton Street and Hill Street.

The officer sustained non-life threatening injuries while trying to arrest and detain the suspect.

A 25-year-old man was taken intocustody, police said.He is being interviewed and charges are pending.

Police will be doing an autopsy on the victim to determine the cause of death andare asking anyone with information regarding the incident to call204-986-6508.

Neighbours shocked to see heavy police presence

Cole Depape, who lives next door to the home where the attack happened, said the couple who lived there moved in a while ago.

He described them as around 25 or 30 years old, and he thought they had a tenant in the house as well.

Depape said he slept through the commotion and was surprised to see the police cars this morning.

"It's pretty confusing," he said. "I'm sure we'll see it on the news. It's definitely a different scene to wake up to."

Amanda Vermette said by the time she woke up in the normally "very pleasant" neighbourhood, the whole street was taped off with police tape.

She said someone knocked on her door at 6:30 a.m. but she was too scared to answer it.

She found out later it was police and that all her neighbours had police at their doors, too.

Vermette said the couple did have a tenant living in the basement.

She said she's a worried about what might have happened in the house.

"Kind of weary about it," she said. "Not quite sure what to think. I guess we'll see what happens. Hopefully it's nothing gang related."

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