Just before 3:00AM EDT on Monday August 11, 2014 Thunder Bay Police Service patrol officers responded to a 911 call involving a domestic assault. A thirty-four-year old female had been assaulted by her ex-boyfriend. She had sought assistance from a neighbour. A second 911 call came from an adjoining residence. Upon arrival at the scene, patrol officers discovered a critically injured 8 year old girl.
The subsequent investigation revealed the following:
After the initial assault, the male attempted to gain access to the adjoining residence. The man was pushed out of this home by a resident. The suspect then fled the scene. The resident then went to check on the welfare of the family.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the injured mother and the eight year old girl. A second child was discovered unharmed in the residence. The mother of the two children had non-life threatening injuries. The girl was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The 38 year old male believed to be responsible for the assault and murder was put out for location following the preliminary investigation at the scene.
Investigators learned that the 34 year old mother had been the initial victim of an assault by her 38 year old ex-boyfriend just before 3:00 a.m. The ex-boyfriend was not living at Donald Street West residence at the time of the incident. There had been no prior incidents of violence reported to Thunder Bay Police.
A post mortem examination was conducted on the 8 year old victim. The cause of death is currently a matter between the family and the coroner.
Wharton Road Stand-off
At approximately 7:30 a.m., police received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle which was parked at the end of Wharton Road. The Chrysler 300 matched the description of the suspect’s vehicle. Thunder Bay Police converged on Wharton Road. Full incident command was established and attempts were made to communicate with the lone male occupant of the vehicle. The stand-off with the male ended at approximately 11:30 a.m. when the male was taken into custody by the T.B.P.S. Emergency Task Unit. The male was rushed to hospital by Superior North E.M.S. due to injuries which were sustained prior to the arrest. The male was pronounced dead a short time later.
The Special Investigations Unit of the province invoked its mandate to investigate the circumstances of the suspect’s death. The S.I.U. investigates circumstances involving police and civilians which result in death or serious injury. That investigation is ongoing. The Thunder Bay Police Service is unable to release the name of the deceased male pending the outcome of the S.I.U. investigation.
The Thunder Bay Police Service believes that the deceased male was responsible for the both the assault on his ex-girlfriend and the murder of her 8 year old daughter identified as Brandi Marie Wingert. Neither of the children involved in this tragic incident were related to the 38 year old ex-boyfriend.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Brandi Wingert’s mother and family,” share the Thunder Bay Police.
