Reaction among Winnipeg's homeless to the Hargrave murders has been mixed

Members of Winnipeg's homeless community are reacting to the weekend's two murders on Hargrave Street in different ways. Even after two vulnerable men were killed in the heart of the city, some of the city's homeless say they are not worried enough to avoid the city centre.

The two victims, one in their 40s and the other in their 60s, were found dead in back alleys in Hargrave just hours apart on Saturday. One of the men was homeless, and police said the other lived a similar lifestyle but was not technically homeless.

The death prompted police to issue a warning to the city's homeless on Sunday.

Saul Lescarbo, who has been homeless for about 2 1/2 months, said that these events do not affect his daily life.

“People who have nothing… it doesn't matter what we do. We live how we live, that's it,” said Lescarbo.

Kolinda Vandale is also homeless and lives at the Salvation Army Booth Center. He is more worried than Lescarbo.

“It's scary. That's why I stand at the door when I go out in the middle of the night because there are smoking cameras,” he said.

Winnipeg police have released images of a person of interest in the two murders and are hoping to contact two other people with information that could help investigators.

Police advised people who are homeless or frequent downtown at night to be careful, travel in groups or in pairs, and avoid secluded areas.

Anyone with information about the deaths is asked to call Winnipeg's homicide unit at (204) 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-TIPS (8477).