Kenyan National Among Victims in Tragic Canada Mass Shooting

On the morning of November 26, 2023, tragedy struck in a West Broadway home in Canada where Kenyan student Melelek Leseri Lesikel lost his life in a mass shooting.

The 29-year-old was studying Biology at the University of Manitoba. At around 4 a.m. emergency services were alerted of an unfortunate event at 143 Langside. The mass shooting had claimed the lives of Lesikel and three others while leaving one more in critical condition. Responding swiftly, the Winnipeg Police arrived at the scene to find five wounded individuals. Without delay, they commenced their rescue efforts, but tragically, two victims were declared dead at the scene.

The remaining three were promptly transported to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Regrettably, one of them succumbed to injuries during treatment, while another met his demise on November 27, 2023, resulting in a total of four fatalities. The individual in critical condition is presently being closely monitored for any signs of progress. Before this disheartening discovery, Melelek Lesikel had been reported missing for several months.

Lesikel was reported as missing before his eventual discovery as deceased. His former roommate confirmed to the Free Press Canada that their last conversation occurred 10 months ago. The President of the Kenya Association of Manitoba Pamela Obonde has verified that the deceased has a brother residing in the United States and a family back in Kenya.

On the other hand, Sam Aguko, the former president of the association, mentions that he had last spoken to the deceased's mother approximately two years ago during his tenure as the community's leader. During one period of Lesikel's disappearance, his mother contacted Aguko in an attempt to locate and bring him home. The search party, responsible for reuniting mother and son, was recently shocked to discover that he had vanished once again.

Court records reviewed by the Free Press indicate that Lesikel had no criminal history that would necessitate involving the police in the search.
As of November 29, 2023, no suspects related to the shooting have been apprehended by the Winnipeg police.