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Man charged for causing fatal fire on Atlantic Avenue

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews battle a fire on Atlantic Avenue in WInnipeg on September 14, 2024. (Cliff Simpson, CityNews)

By Cole Fortner

Posted September 20, 2024 10:03 am.

Last Updated September 20, 2024 10:04 am.

Winnipeg police have charged a 28-year-old in connection to a fatal fire on Sept. 14.

WPS says just before 3 a.m. on Sunday, fire crews responded to reports of a fire at a three-story commercial and residential mixed-use building on Atlantic Avenue near Charles Street.

READ MORE: Fire overnight Saturday on Atlantic Avenue has WFPS crews working through morning to extinguish the blaze

During firefighting efforts, two people were evacuated and taken to hospital in critical condition, where they both died from their injuries.

On Sunday, police identified the two as 49-year-old Geda Wodisso and 38-year-old Zenabu Gula.

READ MORE: Police identify 2 who died in overnight fire in Atlantic Avenue

Through an investigation, police were able to identify 28-year-old Alex Donald Courchene as a suspect in the fire, and on Sept. 18, he was taken into custody.

Police have since charged Courchene with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of arson with disregard for human life.

Investigators have learned that Wodisso and Gula were married and not known to Courchene.

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