15-year-old charged in Point Douglas murder, Main Street assaults; warrant issued for 2nd teen

Police say a 15-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 36-year-old Danielle Ballantyne on Monday.

The Winnipeg Police Service charged the same teenager with aggravated assault after two alleged serious assaults of men in their 50s on Main Street that same morning. The boy was detained in custody.

Police also issued a Canada-wide warrant for a second teenage boy for second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He is also believed to be a suspect in Ballantyne’s death and two assaults on Main Street.

Both serious assault victims remain in hospital in critical condition.

A third assault remains under investigation. Police are not sure if the same two suspects are connected, or if more suspects are involved.

None of the incidents were identified as gun crimes.

Scene of the crime in Point Douglas on Aug. 22, 2022. (Credit: CityNews)

At a press conference Thursday, Const. Dani McKinnon said “it appears all these incidents are random attacks,” adding there is no motive established yet.

She says evidence found indicates there could be more victims.

Officers found Ballantyne’s body in a Point Douglas apartment – on Jarvis Avenue near Main Street – around 7 a.m. on Monday.

Police could not reveal if that’s where the homicide took place.

McKinnon acknowledged the string of incidents has community members “very heightened.”

“If you don’t have to be outside in dark areas for any reason, don’t be,” she said.

Police vehicles on Main Street on Aug. 22, 2022. (Credit: CityNews)

Timeline of events on Monday morning:

• Around 4:30 a.m., police find seriously injured man in his 50s in a parking lot beside apartment building on Main Street (800 block). He was transported to hospital in critical condition, and remains in critical condition.
• Around 5 a.m., police responded to the report of another injured man behind a hotel on Main Street (600 block). He was transported to hospital in critical condition, and remains in critical condition.
• Around 5:30 a.m., police were flagged down by a man in his 50s at Logan Avenue and Disraeli. He told police he had been assaulted. He was taken to hospital in stable condition.
• Around 7 a.m., police received a report of a deceased woman at 189 Jarvis Avenue.

WATCH: Winnipeg police press conference (Aug. 25, 2022)