Suspect arrested in deadly weekend shooting

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This article was published 22/06/2017 (2499 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police have made an arrest in last weekend’s fatal shooting on Pritchard Avenue.

William Sumner, a 27-year-old father of three, was shot Sunday evening in the 600 block of Pritchard. A woman in the area used Facebook to livestream resuscitation efforts by emergency crews shortly after the incident.

Sumner was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Police believe the suspect and victim were in opposing gangs and the shooting involved drugs. Sumner was in a house when the suspect and friends entered. Police say a dispute ensued and, after firing a number of shots at Sumner, the suspect fled the house.

On Tuesday, the suspect was spotted driving around Logan Avenue and Keewatin Street and allegedly pointed a handgun at another motorist.

Police noticed his vehicle in traffic Thursday and followed it to a residence near Logan Avenue. An armoured vehicle and the tactical support team surrounded the house, from which the suspect later exited without incidence.

Police found a handgun and an automatic assault rifle in the house.

On Friday, Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jay Murray called the suspect a “very violent individual.”

“It’s a good thing this person has been taken off the streets,” he said.

Cameron Bounthieng Kinnavanthong, 32, of Winnipeg, is facing a second-degree murder and firearms-related offences. He remains in custody.

Sumner was originally from Fairford, Man. He came to Winnipeg about seven years ago to finish carpentry school, his sister Candice Sumner said. The family still resides in Fairford and first learned about Sumner’s death through social media.

Candice remembers her brother for his love for his family, his passion for baseball, and his knack for joking around.

Thursday’s arrest brings a relief to her family, she said.

“We’re happy justice has been served,” she said, but the family is still in a state of shock. “It happened so suddenly, it hasn’t really hit us yet.”

The investigation is ongoing. Police ask anyone with more information to call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.

stefanie.lasuik@freepress.mb.ca