Victims, suspect in Langside mass shooting said to be friends

The four victims in last weekend’s mass shooting and the alleged shooter were said to be friends who would regularly socialize, CityNews has learned.

The Nov. 26 shooting at a multi-unit house in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood claimed the lives of four people.

Five days after the shooting, officers arrested Jamie Randy Felix at a home in the southeast end of the city. The 32-year-old served as a military corporal with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

CityNews has learned the relationship between the suspect and victims was not one of apparent bad blood or gang rivalry – but of friendship. Those involved would regularly hang out at the Sherbrook Inn on Westminster Avenue.

It’s raising even more questions about one of the worst mass shootings in the city’s history.

Longtime Sherbrook Inn employee Brendon Cornejo confirmed the group were regulars. He claims the relationship between the victims and alleged shooter was one that revolved widely around drugs.

“They made their choice and they chose to do it,” Cornejo said of the group’s involvement in drug activity. “It would be like if I smacked my head against the wall, it’s my choice, and you have to live with the consequence.”

Cornejo was blunt in his assessment of the shooting: “This isn’t even a case of revenge. And a lot of people are going to try and say ‘oh this is a total case of revenge.’ It’s not.”

WATCH: Police arrest suspect in Winnipeg mass shooting

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Those killed in the shooting have been identified as Crystal Beardy, 34; her sister Stephanie Beardy, 33; Melelek Lesikel, 29; and Dylan Lavallee, 41.

A fifth person, a 55-year-old man, remained in hospital in “very critical” condition as of Friday, police said.

Felix faces four counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

Also Friday, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) offered condolences to the families in mourning, saying the pain of the tragedy is immeasurable.

“Our commitment extends beyond condolences, it is imperative that we tackle the root causes of violence and take proactive measures,” Grand Chief Cathy Merrick said in a news release. “By prioritizing mental health support and addictions, we actively contribute to fostering a safer, more compassionate environment for everyone.

“The AMC remains dedicated to collaborating with partners and Nations, developing and implementing programs that not only prioritize mental health but also intervene effectively before violence unfolds within our homes, Nations, and municipalities”.

It’s not the first time Felix’s life has been connected to violent events.

Provincial court records show he was on two years of supervised probation for an assault that occurred in August 2021.

And media reports from 2012 say Felix’s identical twin brother Johnathen James Felix was killed in the same West Broadway neighbourhood in drug-related violence.

–With files from The Canadian Press