Man killed in Langside rooming-house shooting had 'the biggest heart,' sister says

A Winnipeg woman whose brother was killed in a shooting over the weekend at a West Broadway rooming house says she's been in the fetal position on the couch since hearing the news of his death.

Dylan Lavallee, 41, was among four people killed in a mass shooting that took place early Sunday morning on Langside Street while one person remains in hospital. He grew up in Winnipeg, was a father and is being remembered by his sister as someone who put others first.

"He had the biggest heart, he was so kind,"Eve Lavalleesaid. "He always puts me and his mother in front of everyone else."

Lavallee said her brother grew up with their grandmother, but moved back in with her and their mother when he was 14. She remembers going to visit him every weekend back when they were younger.

The last time she saw Dylan was a couple months ago. She was walking home from the grocery store and the two bumped into each other.

She said it didn't become real to her that her brother died until her mother called.

"He had a hard life growing up and that's all he had to resort back to, which was the life on the street," she said. "But he wasn't that guy,he wanted better for himself.He was a great brother, if I ever needed him he was there for me."

Winnipeg police haven't announced any arrests in the case, and officers also haven't confirmed whethera single person shot all of the victims.

Along with Lavallee, the incident also took the lives of Crystal Beardy, 34, her sister Stephanie Beardy, 33,and Melelek Leseri Lesikel, 29. A 55-year-old man, who hasn't been identified by police, remains in hospital.

Investigators also don't know why the victims were together in the suite at the rooming house. The property owner told CBC News none of them were tenants.

Eve said she reached out to the Winnipeg Police Service's homicide unit in an attempt to get more information, but that they were "very weird" to her and wasn't told anything new.

"I guess they thought maybe I was involvedor something, and I was like, 'No, I'm just his sister and I'm just trying to find out things," she said.

Forensics officers are also expected to be at the scene for an extended period of time due to the nature of the crime. About 80 people gathered there Tuesday night in support of the slain.

Eve also said she doesn't know any of the people her brother was with that night.And she's also still looking for answers about her brother's death.

"It's just so unreal, I just wish I knew," she said. "I wish I knew who did this and why, and that's all I've been doing, just laying and asking 'how, why.'"

Families mourn victims of mass killings at Winnipeg rooming house

11 months ago

Duration 2:35

A vigil was held Tuesday night in Winnipeg for the five people who were shot in a mass shooting over the weekend at a rooming house on Langside Street.