Family wants justice after lone survivor of 2023 West Broadway mass shooting dies in hospital
Shawn Marko was critically injured in shooting in central Winnipeg rooming house that left 4 others dead
The lone survivor of a mass shooting in a West Broadway rooming house is being mourned by his family after he died in a Winnipeg hospital earlier this month, more than a year and a half after the shooting that left four others dead.
Shawn Marko, 56, was critically injured and had been hospitalized since the shooting on Langside Street, in the central Winnipeg area, in the early hours of Nov. 26, 2023.
"I don't even know if we'll ever get over this … how he died, and watching him suffer for so long like that," Shawn's sister, Melissa Marko, told CBC.
She said her brother had been at Health Sciences Centre right up until his death on the morning of June 1.
Shawn had been battling a recent bout of pneumonia, an illness he got for the third time while in hospital, she said.
"He had phoned me [on May 31] and he was just gasping for air," said Melissa. "It was not good, and he told me straight out, he said, 'I'm not going to make it this time.'"
He died before his family could get to the hospital to see him again.
"My only brother, [my dad's] only son," Melissa said. "How do you get over such a horrific death like that?"
Melissa said her brother suffered several serious injuries in the shooting that left him unable to walk and required 11 surgeries, including the removal of his pancreas and half of his stomach, along with portions of his spleen, bladder and bowel.
"He was shot three times," she said. "The bullets did major damage to his insides."
Jamie Randy Felix, now 34, was charged with attempted murder in Marko's shooting.
He was also charged with four counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Melelek Leseri Lesikel, 29, Dylan Maxwell Lavallee, 41, and sisters Crystal Shannon Beardy, 34, and Stephanie Amanda Beardy, 33.
Now that her brother has died, Melissa said the attempted murder charge should be upgraded.
"My brother was still in the hospital because of what happened to him," Melissa said. "We want justice and deserve justice, and so do all those other families."
The Manitoba Prosecution Service said any decisions on charges related to Marko's shooting will be made after all relevant evidence has been obtained and reviewed.
Felix's lawyer, Ted Mariash, said he's aware of Marko's death and was given notice prosecutors may change the charge.
None of the allegations against Felix have been tested in court. Trial dates have been arranged for early next year, starting in mid-February.
Celebrating birthday on night of shooting
On the night of the deadly shooting, Shawn was celebrating his 55th birthday, before he ended up at the rooming house with the four other victims and Felix. All were people her brother knew, Melissa said.
While Marko suffered serious injuries in the shooting, he could still communicate clearly and provided police with a videotaped statement while in the hospital, she said.
"He said that they were in this room and that they were all talking, and that all of a sudden he just appeared with a gun," according to Melissa.
Earne Marko, Shawn's dad, said his son lived with addiction, ran into legal troubles and became homeless for about 12 years before reconnecting with his family in 2018.
"To this day, he was a real part of this family," Earne said.
He hasn't been able to sleep well since his son died. He still pictures Shawn's face as he tries to fall asleep, he said.
Earne remembers fishing trips with his son, including the time he forgot to secure a stringer and all the fish got away.
"So that was the end of our fishing," Earne said, laughing.
Melissa said her brother also enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching sports and hanging out with friends.
"He didn't have much, but he would always try and help you if he could," she said.
Marko's funeral will be held on Saturday. After that, his family says they plan to follow the legal proceedings in the case against Felix every step of the way.
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