Early Morning Stabbing in Winnipeg

Early this morning a fight broke out in an apartment complex in The North end of Winnipeg.

The knifing incident took place on Dufferin Ave. The fight happened before 7 a.m., when many residents of the complex were still asleep. They were not aware of the occurrence until police showed up to deal with the incident. They did not see or hear the women involved in the fight.

Both women were taken to the hospital for treatment. The suspect is being held in police custody . One woman was taken away on a stretcher by ambulance after receiving multiple stab wounds.

The upstairs townhouse suite is a two story unit. It is part of a government managed housing complex run by the Manitoba Housing Authority in Winnipeg. Manitoba Housing oversees and manages approximately 13,000 units, providing affordable rent to families and seniors with lower incomes.

According to neighbours, the second floor unit has been an ongoing source of problems and disturbances in the complex. Although not related to this particular incident. there are often drunken parties at all hours of the day and night involving various groups and numbers of people. Verbal and physical fights have broken out both inside and outside of the woman's apartment many times. They can be heard from outside the upstairs unit and inside the complex itself.
The surrounding neighbours say the partiers who attend these revelries at the upstairs apartment have been seen fighting in front of the complex and on the upstairs balcony numerous times. They often exhibit destructive and disruptive behavior. This includes very loud verbal arguments, throwing beer cans and other items over the railings, down the steps, urinating and vomiting in plain view of surrounding houses and in front of residents of the apartment complex itself.

The neighbours are not aware of any party occurring during this particular incident.

Neighbours and local children are often innocent witnesses to the scuffles and drunken behaviour at all hours. This includes a young female child who resides in the upstairs apartment being investigated.

There was a knock at a neighbours door not long before the police showed up to investigate the incident. The neighbour opened the door only to find the little girl dressed in her snow suit, standing there all by herself.

Someone had left her there, knocked on the door and disappeared before the door was opened. They then called the police to report the child had been left at their doorstep, not knowing what had occurred until the police showed up to investigate another call they had received about the fight.

The neighbours took care of the little girl until the police came to pick her up about an hour later. They were not immediately aware there was a child involved who had possibly witnessed the incident.

The young girl's head area was spattered in blood. She was reportedly very quiet until she told them, "My Mommy fell down and was bleeding."

Winnipeg police have taped off the stairway leading to two upstairs units and taped off part of the adjoining townhouse complex, one building over. It is also managed by the Manitoba Housing Authority.

It is not currently known what caused the incident. Police are investigating.