Winnipeg police ID victim of West End homicide

Police have identified the victim of Winnipeg's 20th homicide of 2019.

Justin Silicz, 32, died Sunday after being found injured in the West End, police said Monday.

Police were called to Arlington Street and Notre Dame Avenue after reports of an assault at about 4:35 a.m.

Silicz was found injured and rushed to hospital in critical condition but later died.

Homicide detectives continue to investigate.

Const. Jay Murray said police can't provide any more details at this early stage in the investigation.

"I think it's expected Justin's friends and family along with members of the media, the public and people who lived in the area are going to have a lot of questions as they try to make sense of what happened here," said Murray.

"But it's very important that we balance providing information with protecting the investigation."

The death was one of three assaults in the West End police responded to Sunday and the 20th homicide so far this year.

Murray said police are investigating an "unusually high number of homicides" already this year. He said at this rate Winnipeg could see as many homicides as it did in 2011, when there were 39.

"We're certainly feeling that we're stretched to our limits but it's not a position that we haven't been in before," said Murray.

"You hope that this is alleviated soon but again investigators are used to this."

Anyone with information about the homicide that left Silicz dead is asked to call investigators at 204-986-6219.

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