The 2023 Manitoba Homicide Victim List is available here

Brandon Police Service received a report from the 800 block of 15th Street that a person was attacking others with a hammer.  A description of the suspect was provided by witnesses on scene, and officers located the accused a short distance from the area. 

While at the scene, 911 received a second call of a possible house fire on the same block. Brandon Fire attended the home and entered after witnesses said that a victim of the hammer attack was potentially still inside the building. 28-year-old Eric Lepine was pulled from the fire, and and suffering from multiple hammer strikes to his head. He was taken to the BRHC before being air lifted by STARS Air Ambulance to the Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg.

A second adult male victim was found to have been struck in the head with a hammer by the suspect, however, sustained minor injuries to the top of his head.  

A canister of accelerant and the weapon used during the assault was recovered by police at the scene of the fire.

Ryan Mecas was originally arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault, Assault with a Weapon, and Arson with Disregard for Human Life.

On the evening of November 15, 2023, victim Eric Lepine died of his injuries. Ryan Mecas is now facing an additional Charge of Second-Degree Murder.

A gofundme campaign has been created to help the family with funeral costs