Police looking for 3 people in connection with downtown Winnipeg stabbing death of girl, 14
Investigators want to speak with male, 2 girls after fatal stabbing on Graham Avenue
Police are looking for three people in connection with the afternoon stabbing death of a teenage girl in downtown Winnipeg last week.
The incident happened on Graham Avenue near Fort Street, near a bus stop in front of the Cargill Building, around 1 p.m. on Friday, within blocks of Winnipeg police headquarters.
Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth said the 14-year-old girl was with a group of young people before the attack.
"One of the young people she was with suddenly turned on her and stabbed her," Smyth said during a news conference in Winnipeg on Monday morning. "It was a pretty sudden turn of events."
Police arrived moments later and provided emergency first aid. The girl was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
It's possible the attacker and other witnesses of the attack are also youth, Smyth said. Investigators are looking for a male they called a suspect and two girls whom the victim was with around the time of the attack.
Smyth said investigators do not consider the attack random because the victim and three people she was with appeared to know each other.
The victim had been reported missing on a number of occasions in the past, and police have helped find her and return her home, he said. She had not been reported missing at the time of the attack, Smyth said.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, youth accused of crimes and youth victims of those crimes cannot be identified.
Sandra Delaronde, a longtime advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous people, is organizing a ceremonial fire at Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre at 445 King Street on Monday at 5 p.m. in support of the family, friends and people who knew the girl.
"With every loss, the community is impacted, and the grief is compounded with each death," she said.
'Don't ever walk alone'
Some people who work or commute near Graham Avenue and Fort Street say they feel uneasy since hearing about the girl's death.
"It makes me scared," said Janet Constantini, who works and takes the bus in the area.
Storm Malcolm, who also works nearby, says people should be cautious and make sure they're with a family member or friend when they're in the neighbourhood.
"Don't ever walk alone," he said near the Graham Avenue and Fort Street intersection.
University of Manitoba student Kurt Abad hopes the incident encourages people to make the area safer.
"As a community we should try to thrive in making this place safe because a lot of people commute here."
Police ask anyone with information that could help to contact the homicide unit at 204-986-6508, or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or online.
With files from Emily Brass