‘Senseless’: Winnipeg police charge 19-year-old in connection to Thursday’s fatal stabbing
Posted December 22, 2023 3:58 pm.
Last Updated December 22, 2023 9:27 pm.
On Friday, Winnipeg Police confirmed they had charged 19-year-old Ethan Gladu with Second Degree Murder, following what the police are calling an unprovoked stabbing of Ivan Rubanik, a recent immigrant from Ukraine, who was set to celebrate his first Christmas in our country with his wife and two children.
“Senseless, there is no rhyme or reason for this incident based on our investigation,” said Constable Jason Michalyshen, Winnipeg Police Service.
“They were looking for a safe place to live, and a safe place to raise their children. Now they are left alone without a husband, a father, a lack of financial support, and really without a true understanding of how to live further with their loss and a country they are still learning a lot about.”
Investigators believe Rubanik was stabbed without provocation as he walked to work at Westward Industries. Gladu then fled the scene before being arrested on Thursday.
“There is no information to support that a conversation occurred between these two, I can tell you that there is no information to support that these two knew each other,” said Michalyshen.
READ MORE: 19-year-old facing charges in connection to fatal stabbing: Winnipeg police
Jasen Dillon, a co-worker of Rubanik’s at Westward Industries, says they only learned of Ivan’s passing when his wife arrived at their building on Archibald Street to deliver the heartbreaking news.
“We knew something was wrong, Ivan never missed a day of work, came in sick he was always there,” said Dillon.
“Them being Ukrainian, she didn’t know the name of our work, she didn’t know our phone number, she just knew the building he worked in, so she came all the way to our work to tell us about his passing.”
In light of this tragedy, Dillon and fellow workers from Westward Industries have since begun raising funds for Rubanik’s family through GoFundMe. In just over 24 hours, they have raised over $25,000.
“I’m amazed by everyone’s support, it shows me what Winnipeg can be when we really need to pull together. As a work family we’ve already provided them with food and offered any assistance that we can to them, is she needs something she has our numbers and she can call us, we will do what we can for her immediately, no questions asked,” said Dillon.
