Man accused of firing homemade firearm at city warming shelter

A 35-year-old Saskatoon man is facing attempted murder and firearms charges after allegedly discharging a homemade gun at a Regina warm-up station Friday morning.

According to a Regina Police Service release issued Monday morning, several units responded to a warming shelter in the 3500 block of 5th Avenue at about 8:30 a.m. for a report of a firearms offence. A caller indicated a man was trying to fight with staff.

The suspect left by the time officers arrived, but investigation indicated he pointed a homemade firearm at another person before discharging it. The shot struck a window of the building.

Police were able to recover a projectile and learned the identity of the suspect. Police say the man was the subject of a number of firearms prohibition orders.

A warrant was obtained for the suspect's arrest. He was arrested without further incident back at the same location on Sunday morning.

The suspect is charged with attempt murder using a firearm, four counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition and breach of probation. He was set to make his first appearance in Regina provincial court on Monday morning.

Awasiw: A Place of Hope opened in partnership with YWCA Regina on Dec. 26 with the goal of providing a safe space for people to come in out of the cold, grab a hot drink and warm up.

The 5th Avenue warming station is open each night from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Wanda Rockthunder, a longtime volunteer with All Nations Hope Network, said Awasiw saw six people come through on the station the first night and by the second night, that number had grown to 24.

“We just allow them to sit. We just allow them to feel welcome,” she said in a recent interview.

“They'll tell us what their needs are as soon as we have a conversation with them. The service is really just a friendly `I'm here for you. We're your neighbours. Come on in, have a cup of coffee, let's talk, have a rest' — very basic. But yet those basic needs are what some of our people want.”

Awasiw also gives away food items, bagged lunches, winter clothing and toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste to visitors who need them.