A look at Saskatoon homicide cases in 2016

The victims range in age from an eight-month-old baby to a 63-year-old woman.

If shown on a map, the crime scenes dot different quadrants of Saskatoon.

So far, the city has counted eight homicides in the first six months of 2016, one more than the total number of cases in 2015.

March has proved the deadliest month, with three homicides on record within 19 days.

What started as the city’s first possible murder case – the death of a 29-year-old man on Preston Avenue – was later ruled a self-defence killing by a mother defending her family from an intruder. 

It was also bumped as the first case when charges were laid in the January death of an eight-month-old baby girl, who police believe was asphyxiated as a result of actions by the suspect.

Right now, Saskatoon is on pace to surpass 2010 when the city saw 10 murders, which police considered an anomaly at the time.

In 2014, there were eight homicides, and four the year before; 2011 and 2012 saw five each.

Below is a look at 2016 homicide cases in Saskatoon.

1. Jan. 29, 2016: Saskatoon police are called to the 100 block of Avenue P South for a report of an unresponsive eight-month-old baby girl. The baby is taken to hospital, where she is pronounced dead; the case is not considered a homicide at the time. On May 12, police announce a 27-year-old man, not named, has been charged with manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessities of life for his alleged involvement.
    
2. March 11, 2016: Officers respond to a call of an injured man at 1501 Preston Avenue South; the 29-year-old is taken to hospital, where he is pronounced dead. A 36-year-old woman is taken into custody, and later released without charges when police found the man had broken into the home, forcing the woman to defend herself and her children.
    
3. March 23, 2016: Saskatoon police respond to a home on the 3500 block of Balfour Street where a woman is severely hurt. The 63-year-old woman with life-threatening injuries is rushed to hospital, where she later dies. Kyle James Zerr, 29, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement. Police believe the victim and suspect knew each other; however, the name of the victim nor the relationship to the accused has been released at this time.
    
4. March 30, 2016: Adam St. Denis, 24, is taken to hospital with unspecified injuries after police are called to an apartment on the 100 block of Avenue O South; he dies the next day. Blair Christopher French, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement.
    
5. April 16, 2016: Saskatoon police are called to the Canarama parking lot for a report of a stabbing. Two men are rushed to hospital with stab wounds; 22-year-old Herman Matthews from La Loche, Sask. dies from his injuries. On April 19, a Canada-wide warrant is issued for 20-year-old Miguel Gomez for his alleged involvement; exactly one month later, he’s found and arrested in Edmonton. Gomez is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Matthews. 
    
6. April 24, 2016: Mohammed Omar, 18, is fatally stabbed on Central Avenue. A friend of the victim, 29-year-old Wallid Mohamed, is accused of first-degree murder for his alleged involvement.
    
7. June 3, 2016: Saskatoon police are called to a home in Stonebridge where officers find the body of 55-year-old Cynthia Crampton. Officials take two people into custody; Tyler Hurd, 33, is charged with first-degree murder, and Tammy Poffley, 52, is charged as an accessory for their alleged involvement.
    
8. June 18, 2016: Saskatoon police respond to an injured 24-year-old man on Avenue E, just south of 20th Street. He later dies in hospital; the case is being investigated as the city’s eighth homicide.

This information is up to date as of June 22, 2016. It will be updated as new information becomes available.