Two individuals have been formally charged with second-degree murder in connection to the fatal shooting of a man and a woman in Victoria Beach, a rural municipality in Manitoba earlier this year, according to Manitoba RCMP. The suspects, Nathoniel More-Harrison, aged 31, and Mitchell Johanson, aged 28, were apprehended for the double homicide involving Sly Thibert and Melissa Wilson, as announced by the police during a news conference held on Wednesday afternoon.
The lifeless bodies of Thibert, 29, and Wilson, 41, were discovered in the Sandy Bay cottage area, located approximately 100 kilometers north of Winnipeg, during the early hours of June 20. RCMP Staff Sgt. Sean Grunewald revealed that the police believe Thibert was the intended target of the suspects, with Wilson tragically becoming a victim due to her presence at his residence when More-Harrison and Johanson arrived. The motive behind the crime is still being investigated, added Grunewald.
The victims and the accused individuals were acquainted with each other as they resided in the same locality and were friends, according to Grunewald. Expressing the gravity of the situation, Grunewald stated during the news conference that these homicides have deeply impacted the families of the victims, as well as many residents in the Victoria Beach area and across the province.
Johanson, a resident of Grand Marais, Manitoba, was apprehended in Abbotsford, British Columbia on October 7. Meanwhile, More-Harrison, hailing from the RM of St. Clements in Manitoba, was arrested in the Nova Scotia village of New Minas on Wednesday morning, confirmed the police.
Glenn Thibert, the father of Sly Thibert, expressed his lack of solace upon learning about the arrests in connection to his son’s untimely death. Despite receiving calls of encouragement, Thibert emphasized that the arrests do not alleviate his grief or bring back his son or Melissa. He mentioned that he was not surprised upon hearing about the identities of the arrested individuals, describing his son as a gentle soul with no inclination towards violence.
Johanson is currently in custody awaiting transportation back to Manitoba for a court appearance, as per the RCMP. Similarly, More-Harrison will also be returned to Manitoba to face legal proceedings. Grunewald urged any residents with pertinent information regarding the deaths to reach out to the RCMP for assistance.