Winnipeg police are searching for a “person of interest” in the brutal murders of two street people on the weekend.

Police released a picture of an adult male taken from video surveillance of businesses near where both victims were found.

“On Friday, April 24, between, 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. on the Saturday, April 25, there were two men brutally killed within a block of each other,” Sgt. John O’Donovan said Sunday.

O’Donovan would not say how the victims were killed.

“One man in his late 40s was killed near Portage (Avenue) and Hargrave (Street) in the north lane of Portage Avenue. The other man in his late 60s was killed in the east lane of Hargrave just south of Ellice (Avenue),” O’Donovan said. “Both victims are vulnerable persons from our community here. They are vulnerable in the sense that they suffer from mental health and/or substance abuse and spend a lot of their lives on the streets.”

The older man was located at the rear of 329 Hargrave Street on Saturday at about 12:45 a.m. The man in his 40s was found at the rear of 333 Portage Avenue at about 6:30 p.m.

Police believe that the two incidents are related and, due to the similarity of the murders, are seeking one suspect.

Police are anxious to find the man in the released photograph.

“This male was in the area at the time of the homicides and he may have had contact with the victims, and he could have very vital information for us,” O’Donovan said. “We would like to identify him and speak with him as soon as possible.”

Police are also looking for a male and female who were near a construction trailer near Portage and Hargrave between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, and may have spoken to the man in the photo.

Although only one of the two victims was officially homeless, police attended to such homeless shelters as the Siloam Mission to warn that community that the suspect may be targeting them.

“They both had similar lifestyles,” O’Donovan said. “Just because you have a home doesn’t mean you don’t have issues and lead a similar lifestyle and spend a lot of time on the streets. And people may look at you like as if you’re homeless.”

The deaths may be related to another “vulnerable” homicide victim who was found in a Main Street bus shelter on April 10.

Autopsies of the deceased and family notifications are pending.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents or the identity of the suspect should call police at either 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Local homeless community shocked

The local homeless community was shocked that a brutal killer may be targeting them.

“I’m wondering what’s going on out there,” Gerald Moar, 57, said outside the Siloam Mission. “Every time you turn around, things are happening. You can’t go anywhere, you’ve got to be with somebody from now on. That’s what they’re recommending here.

“It’s very scary stuff.” After police discovered the bodies of two men who appeared to be homeless, though one wasn’t, they visited a number of homeless shelters Saturday night to warn that “vulnerable community” to be more cautious. Both victims were found alone in secluded areas downtown.

“It is a concern for everybody that’s on the street, that are loners especially,” said a 50-year-old homeless man who goes by the street name of Lyle. “Everybody should just stick together instead of being alone. And there is a lot of people who are out there who have no friends. They’re loners and they’re right on the street and they’re right in a dangerous neighbourhood there. But everywhere’s dangerous now, especially if this is happening, if someone is running around killing homeless people. It’s a concern for everybody.

“It’s a wake-up call for everybody, especially the homeless.” Alfred Raire, 66, read about the murders in the Sunday newspaper.

“I was kind of wondering ‘what the hell happened?’” he said. “It is scary. Yup, really, holy man.” Dan Maxson, the mission’s director of operations, is concerned.

“These types of murders, if in fact they are targeting the homeless population, (have) been going on in the states, and now it looks like it’s coming to our city,” he said.

“When you’re out and about, please pay particular attention to these people (homeless),” Sgt. John O’Donovan said. “They’re often invisible, but make sure that they are safe and not being harassed by anybody or appear to be in a disadvantaged position.

“If you’re a person who lives on the streets ... you know what to do to stay safe. Stay with your friends, there’s safety in numbers. Don’t wander off with somebody you don’t know and, people of Winnipeg, if you’re out and about and you see something that doesn’t look right with you, call the police.” The Siloam Mission offers shelter to 400 to 500 homeless people each night.

jim.bender@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @bendersun