Charges laid in killing outside Windsor Hotel

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This article was published 28/01/2020 (1696 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 28-year-old Winnipeg man has been accused of slaying a man outside the Windsor Hotel earlier this month.

Alrick Denon Banton has been charged with second-degree murder, attempt to commit murder, two counts of discharging a restricted firearm with intent, and unauthorized possession of a prohibited device or ammunition.

Banton has been detained in custody.

Yassin Abdu Ahmed, 20, died after being one of three men shot and taken to hospital in the Jan. 12 incident. After Ahmed’s death, people in community programs such as SWISH, a Basketball Manitoba summer program for inner-city children, and the Spence Neighbourhood Association, remembered him as intelligent and funny and someone who was driven to make a positive impact on his community.

Ahmed and his family moved to Winnipeg in 2010 and lived in the North End.

Winnipeg police spokeswoman Const. Tammy Skrabek said on Wednesday that Banton had a firearm magazine with several rounds of ammunition in it when he was arrested on Jan. 28.

“He was in a vehicle (when he was arrested) and the item that was seized — the firearm magazine — was in the vehicle, not on his personal possession,” Skrabek said.

“Homicide investigators were able to identify this suspect, which did lead them to his location and the arrest.”

Skrabek said it’s still not clear if Banton knew Ahmed, she doesn’t know if the bullets in the magazine match the ones used in the slaying, and she’s “not aware” if police have found the murder weapon. She said investigators are also still pursuing whether the incident was gang-related.

“In terms of an ongoing investigation, I don’t know if there will be other witnesses yet to come forward, or yet to be interviewed, or other suspects that may end up needing to be interviewed.

Meanwhile, it’s not the first time that Banton has been before the courts.

He had four charges stayed on Feb. 28, 2018. They were possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a controlled substance, possession of proceeds of crime and failure to comply with an undertaking.

Banton is also being sued. Last year, PRA Group Canada Inc., a company that buys debt sold by banks or creditors, received a default judgment against Banton in Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench for $6,600.68.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

– with files from Ryan Thorpe

Kevin Rollason
Reporter

Kevin Rollason is one of the more versatile reporters at the Winnipeg Free Press. Whether it is covering city hall, the law courts, or general reporting, Rollason can be counted on to not only answer the 5 Ws — Who, What, When, Where and Why — but to do it in an interesting and accessible way for readers.

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