‘An amazing human’: Elmwood homicide victim mourned

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This article was published 01/11/2022 (784 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Family of a man slain this week in Elmwood wants their loved one remembered as someone who could light up a room with his laughter.

Winnipeg police were called about an injured man on the 100 block of Johnson Avenue West, just east of Henderson Highway, at about 2:30 a.m. Monday.

Officers found William Markowski, 47, unresponsive outside a home and gave him medical care. He was taken to hospital in critical condition, where he later died.

Police confirmed he was the victim of an assault.

A 47-year-old cousin of Markowski said she is acting as a family spokesperson. She said his children have been crushed by the death, while she, too, has been devastated

“They’re processing — it’s been a rough 48 hours for everyone,” said Blou, who requested her surname be withheld and for privacy for the immediate family as they deal with the grief.

“We want to make sure that everybody in the world knows that he was an amazing human — he was loved so deeply.”

She said Markowski, who had a number of children, was a hard worker at everything he did, including in the construction industry.

“He had one of those laughs that… would just bring joy to everyone,” his cousin said Wednesday from Calgary.

“My mom always called him Billy Boy. He was what everybody says when somebody passes, but we actually told Billy this when he was alive — how amazing he was.”

She said the family is tight-knit. “He is going to be greatly missed by his children, and his family, and his friends.”

Markowski’s death marked the 44th homicide in Winnipeg thus far in 2022, which matches 2019 for the highest yearly number in the city’s history.

“That’s a lot of pain to families, members of the community, people who knew these victims,” Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jay Murray said Monday of the high number of killings.

“It’s been very taxing on our service and we still have two months (in the year) to go. We don’t know what that will bring, but certainly, the number is very concerning.”

The city police homicide unit is investigating Markowski’s slaying, and has asked anyone with information that could help to call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera