THUNDER BAY — The number of reported murders in the city is half of what was reported for 2022, says the Thunder Bay Police Service.
At Thunder Bay Police headquarters on Balmoral Street, Det. Insp. Jeremy Pearson confirmed there were seven murders in 2023, compared to the record-setting 15 homicides police confirmed in 2022.
"I can share with you that there were seven homicide investigations that commenced in 2023, and one of those remains active and ongoing. The other six have been cleared by charges; there are persons before the court in relation to those murders."
Pearson was asked if the recent death of a 21-year-old woman was considered a homicide but declined comment.
"I cannot speak to that investigation in any form," he said, citing the ongoing Special Investigations Unit investigation, adding city police are looking into the death.
The most recent murder case is in reference to a Mississauga man selling a potentially dangerous chemical to individuals at risk of suicide.
While the number of murders in the city is down, gun violence is still a major concern for city police.
"Firearm violence is still very much a concern in this community," Pearson said, adding that two of the seven homicides from last year involved guns and six of the nine attempted homicides involved firearms. There were 14 attempted homicides in 2022.
Pearson said violent crime remains a prevalent issue in the city and often involves individuals known to each other.
"These are not random acts of violence generally, in our experience in the city. Usually, there is a relationship and interaction in whatever form.
"If it weren't for the life-saving efforts of our emergency medical services, of our emergency room staff at the regional [hospital], and indeed the life-saving efforts provided on scene by both fire and police services as well, we could have had additional homicides, and that would be at 16 for the year, and we'd be talking about a new record-setting year."
The senior officer spoke of the force's efforts to address some of the "social underpinnings" that lead to violence.
"The illicit drug trade, of course, is dependent upon a market and that in and of itself is a community issue to be addressed. There are wonderful people doing great work in this community in terms of trying to address vulnerabilities.
"I think that our continued attention, enforcement-wise, to the illicit drug trade and to illegal firearms within the city is certainly something we intend to continue," Pearson said.
"I think we've got a community issue that we need to address in terms of the social underpinnings of violence. I think we have enforcement work to be done, and we, of course, try to remain proactive in terms of being present with vulnerable people, in terms of working with our community partners to identify people who are being exploited, who may be subject to home takeovers possibly prior to violence taking place."
While there are a number of initiatives that police are working on for 2024, Pearson said it was too early to elaborate.
"I have a number of potential initiatives in mind. I don't want to speak to them prior to them being actualized, but we will certainly be communicating."
While city police remain as a reactive emergency response, Pearson said the force is also working on proactive measures.
"In terms of what we can do proactively, simply establishing good relationships so that people who are survivors of crime are comfortable in speaking with police, in assisting and participating in investigations and prosecutions.
"Those are all relationship-building pieces that can be ongoing. But in terms of the grassroots prevention of the social underpinnings of violence, I truly believe that is a community responsibility."
