Police confirmed Tuesday morning that they are investigating the city’s third homicide of 2010.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers responded to a distrubannce call on High Street South, near Oliver Road, around 3 a.m.
“An initial investigation by officers revealed a male that required medical assistance that was on the street. The 25-year-old injured male was taken to Thunder Bay Regional (Health Sciences Centre) by ambulance, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later,” said Det. Staff-Sgt. Don Lewis in a phone interview with CKPR radio.
“Further investigation resulted in the arrest of a 19-year-old Thunder Bay man. He's been charged with second-degree murder.”
Nineteen-year-old Patrick Kanate was charged with the second-degree murder of 25-year-old Keegan Williams. His first court appearance was Wednesday morning.
Tuesday afternoon’s post mortem revealed the victim died of a stab wound.
Next-door neighbour Cat Leonard said she was asleep when a commotion arose on the street below.
“It was two men arguing in the street. I'm not really sure what they were saying to each other, but there was kind of a scuffle of some kind. Shortly after that the police were on it right away.
“I got up and took a peek out the window and I saw the police cars and the lights and whatnot. They were taking care of the situation pretty well by that point,” Leonard said.
She added police spotted the suspect almost immediately and took him into custody.
“There were so many (police) around and they were able to get him under control right away and get him into the police car and hopefully to a safer location,” she said.
Lewis said both the victim and alleged attacker are from Thunder Bay and knew each other. He added one of the people involved in the incident resided in the High Street area, however, Lewis couldn’t say whether it was the victim or suspect, though he did say alcohol appears to have been involved.
Leonard said it was pretty clear the victim and the suspect were familiar with each other and that it was too bad they couldn’t resolve their differences in a more peaceful manner.
“They seemed to know each other and have a past,” said Leonard, a Lakehead University student. “Even though it was really sad, I was glad it wasn’t a random act of violence. I just think it’s unfortunate the people have to resort to those sorts of methods and those sorts of behaviours to resolve their problems.
“I think the answer to that question is a larger social issue. It’s really unfortunate; it’s really sad. Two people’s lives changed just from who knows what the argument was about ... We like to keep the peace around here.”
Meanwhile, police prevented traffic from entering the area between Markland Street and Oliver Road on High Street South while they conducted their investigation. Traffic problems were still being reported in that area late into Tuesday afternoon as a result.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers responded to a distrubannce call on High Street South, near Oliver Road, around 3 a.m.
“An initial investigation by officers revealed a male that required medical assistance that was on the street. The 25-year-old injured male was taken to Thunder Bay Regional (Health Sciences Centre) by ambulance, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later,” said Det. Staff-Sgt. Don Lewis in a phone interview with CKPR radio.
“Further investigation resulted in the arrest of a 19-year-old Thunder Bay man. He's been charged with second-degree murder.”
Nineteen-year-old Patrick Kanate was charged with the second-degree murder of 25-year-old Keegan Williams. His first court appearance was Wednesday morning.
Tuesday afternoon’s post mortem revealed the victim died of a stab wound.
Next-door neighbour Cat Leonard said she was asleep when a commotion arose on the street below.
“It was two men arguing in the street. I'm not really sure what they were saying to each other, but there was kind of a scuffle of some kind. Shortly after that the police were on it right away.
“I got up and took a peek out the window and I saw the police cars and the lights and whatnot. They were taking care of the situation pretty well by that point,” Leonard said.
She added police spotted the suspect almost immediately and took him into custody.
“There were so many (police) around and they were able to get him under control right away and get him into the police car and hopefully to a safer location,” she said.
Lewis said both the victim and alleged attacker are from Thunder Bay and knew each other. He added one of the people involved in the incident resided in the High Street area, however, Lewis couldn’t say whether it was the victim or suspect, though he did say alcohol appears to have been involved.
Leonard said it was pretty clear the victim and the suspect were familiar with each other and that it was too bad they couldn’t resolve their differences in a more peaceful manner.
“They seemed to know each other and have a past,” said Leonard, a Lakehead University student. “Even though it was really sad, I was glad it wasn’t a random act of violence. I just think it’s unfortunate the people have to resort to those sorts of methods and those sorts of behaviours to resolve their problems.
“I think the answer to that question is a larger social issue. It’s really unfortunate; it’s really sad. Two people’s lives changed just from who knows what the argument was about ... We like to keep the peace around here.”
Meanwhile, police prevented traffic from entering the area between Markland Street and Oliver Road on High Street South while they conducted their investigation. Traffic problems were still being reported in that area late into Tuesday afternoon as a result.
