Winnipeg's Eritrean community meets after 3 Eritreans shot in East Kildonan

Members of the Eritrean community meet Tuesday to discuss a shooting on the weekend that injured three people. (CBC)

By CBC

Members of the Eritrean community in Winnipeg gathered Tuesday night to discuss a shooting that injured three people in East Kildonan over the weekend.

A 22-year-old man was charged Monday with four counts of attempted murder after three men were shot and another allegedly was shot at on Hazel Dell Avenue early Sunday morning.

 Lambros Kyriakasos, president of the community group
Eritrean Community in Winnipeg Inc., said the parties
involved in Sunday's shooting were from the Eritrean community.

Lambros Kyriakasos, president of the community group Eritrean Community in Winnipeg Inc., said the arrested man and the injured people were all from the east African community.

In times like this, it is important to make sure no one feels isolated, including the accused's family, Kyriakasos said. The purpose of Tuesday's meeting was to bring members of the normally tight-knit Eritrean community together and make sense of the violence.

"What we want to make sure is that when these things happen, the families are supported, the youth are supported, that everybody is together," said Kyriakasos.

Lydia Ghebremicael was at the meeting on Tuesday and said she was shocked by the shooting. She said she knew the accused and the people who were shot.

"They're nice people. Honestly, they're really nice people," she said.

Parents of the 22-year-old charged with attempted murder met with the parents of the three injured people on Monday, Kyriakasos said. The meeting was positive, he said.

"They were welcomed by the victims," he said.

There are "no details" Kyriakasos can offer about why the shooting occurred, he said.

Eritrean Community in Winnipeg Inc. has been working with families and youth for 30 years to try to prevent violence, work with newcomers and address intergenerational issues, he said.

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