A soccer player was shot and killed after a Saturday night match near a south end Winnipeg complex, according to tournament organizers.
The Canada African Cup of Nations said in a statement Sunday it was saddened to confirm a “tragic incident” that occurred at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex on Waverley Street following matches during the group’s 2024 tournament. The statement said as players were leaving the venue, a “targeted shooting” happened in the parking lot.
While police and medical services attended the scene, the organization was informed Sunday morning the player, who isn’t being publicly identified at this time, had died after sustaining serious upper body injuries, according to the statement.
“We are all in shock, we’re in grief, we’re in pain,” Canada African Cup of Nations president Gode Katembo told CBC News Sunday night. “We’re bleeding inside our hearts and our staff, our volunteers, our players, the fans the entire community, we’re all traumatized and we’re all shocked by this tragedy.
Katembo also told CBC News he believed the shooting had nothing to do with match results.
“At the end of the match nobody was fighting,” he said. “The reason why I believe it has nothing to do with the match or the result of the match, is because the player who is the victim is the team that lost.”
“The people who got involved in this, they were not involved in any of the communities that were playing at that moment,” he said. “We do believe this was outside soccer, he was just targeted and they were waiting for him.”
Katembo said police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
CBC News reached out to the Winnipeg Police Service Sunday morning and were told about a fatal incident that happened in the 900 block of Waverley Street. CBC News was also told the incident happened around midnight Sunday, but that any other information would have to come from the Public Information Office.
The office was closed Sunday.
“The Winnipeg Police Service has launched an investigation into the senseless act of violence that occured in the parking lot,” the statement from Canada African Cup of Nations, which was signed by Katembo said.
“We urge anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist the police in their efforts to bring those involved to justice,” the statement said.
‘Great tragedy to our community,’ tournament president says
Katembo said he heard a popping sound about 20-25 minutes after the last match Saturday, which ended around 11:20 p.m.
At first he thought it was fireworks because everyone had been celebrating after the matches.
But when he saw nothing in the sky, he said he immediately ushered everyone indoors and 911 was called.
“I went to try to go and see what was happening and all I could hear was the staff and other people screaming ‘Somebody got shot,'” he said.
The Canada African Cup of Nations statement said they’re asking for respect and privacy for the family and the affected communities at this time. The organization said it will provide more information as it becomes available from police.
Meanwhile, Katembo said generally speaking, the players involved in the tournament are mostly under 30.
“We created this competition to keep youth off the streets, to keep youth at risk off the streets, to create sense of belonging, sense of acceptance, a space where they can feel safe,” he said.
“We’re waiting for the Winnipeg police for further information,” said Katembo. “We don’t know [the] people who did this, but it’s [a] great, great tragedy to our community, to our people, to all the youth in the community.”